Tagged by Moderate!

This little cardboard Nativity is older than I am. I think my Mother bought it at the 5 & Dime. Funny thing is, Mag's Mom bought the same exact Manger at about the same time, over 50 years ago! What we have today is a combination of the two sets, thus continuing a Tradition that had been observed in both our households.

(Lifted directly from da Mod hisself! Hey I'm lazy!)

Got "tagged" by my buddy Chuck. So here are the rules for you to follow:

Da Rulez

1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share Christmas facts about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of "Getting to Know Your Friends."

1. Wrapping or gift bags?
Wrapped.

2. Real or artificial tree?
Real, well, they used to be. Now we just put up the little artificial one seen to the right of the Manger in the photo above.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Varies. I'm not big on decorations and usually won't do squat until Mag's makes me, lol!

4. When do you take the tree down?
I try to get it done before the 4th of July so I have room for those decorations!

5. Do you like egg nog?
Only if liberaly laced with Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
The Ballad of Davey Crockett and a "coonskin" hat. I don't know if I actually got these for Christmas. I do remember driving my parents crazy with the record, especially on Saturday morning when they were trying to sleep. (See Extravaganza below, For my Dad)

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yep. See the picture above!

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Can't say I ever received a "bad" Christmas gift since every gift was given in love and appreciation. But if pressed, I'd have to say the one Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sargent Caywood gave us Christmas Day back at Parris Island: bends and mothers forever! (Ya gotta be a Jarhead to get that one, lol!)

9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Both

10. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Miracle On 34th Street, the original

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Don't really have a time, whenever I see something I think someone would like or need. The nieces and nephews throw me off tho, because their parents don't know what they want until Thanksgiving. Then I try to shop for everything online.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Whatever they are serving, lol!

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Colored

14. Favorite Christmas song(s)?
See next post, the Extravaganza!

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Christmas Eve at Mag's Niece Mare's, Christmas Day at her Nephew Jimmie's.

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
No, can you?

17. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Angel, when we have a real tree.

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
Well, I have a tendency to give Mags her presents as I get them, lol, but generally Christmas Day.

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Gauche, obnoxious light displays and rampant commercialism.

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color?
No.

21. What do you leave for Santa?
A glass of Johnnie Black, a Bud and a a "bud", lol!

22. Least favorite holiday song?
Grandma Got Runned Over By A Reindeer

23. Favorite ornament?
Huh? See picture below, lol!

24. Family tradition?
Setting up the Nativity in the picture above. Everything else is "freestyle".

25. Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services?
Yes.

I will be passing this "tag" on to the following blogfriends:

To All and any that wish to participate! Like I said, I'm lazy!

Merry Christmas!

d.

Tag, I'm It

Got tagged by spadoman over the weekend to do a meme, whatever that is. Based on what I've seen, it's basically a bunch of questions one answers that's supposed to give other's insight into the responder's lifestyle, feelings, thoughts, etc.

Well, I don't know how accurate all this amateur psychology is, but here we go...(if you see something here I've missed about myself, let me know and I'll get right on it!):

1.) Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies:

What kind of question is this? Who buys copies of books to give away? Other than birthdays and Christmas? Who? Who does this? Have you? Tell the truth. I've lived in Big Cities for at least half of my life. I live in Philly now and I work in New York. Millions and millions of people! No-one has ever come up to me, pressed a book into my hand and said, "Here, I'm giving these away because I think you should read this!" Jehovah's Witnesses don't count! Okay, I haven't done that either. I have passed along books I have read to others and asked them to pass them along also. If I were to do that, the one book I would choose to do it with is, "Big Lies", by Joe Conason. "Big Lies" exposes the inner workings of the Rightwing Spinmachine, it's history, it's hypocrisy and the purveyors of mistruths' own twisted histories. Great book for anyone who wonders what happened to the "Lib'rul Media" and the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy.

2.) Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music:

What? ... Changed the "way" I listen to music?... None. 8 tracks changed the "way" I listen to music. Cassettes changed the "way" I listen to music. CD's and DVD's changed the "way" I listen to music. Satellite radio changed the "way" I listen to music. Am I taking this too literally? Do you mean what musical inspiration was my muse? None. I like too many things to be pinned down on one. If I had to say the piece of music that represents a major change in my life, then I would have to say "The Marine Corps Hymn". After they played that at my Graduation from Parris Island, nothing in my life was the same anymore. To this day, when I hear it, I stop whatever I am doing and snap to attention. Not because I'm an idiot, (which is understandably arguable), but out of respect for my Brother and Sister Marines.

3.) Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue:

Debbie Does Dallas! (Hey! You asked!) OH! You mean mainstream films? None. I work in the business. It is very hard for me to watch a picture without dissecting it technically. I guess if I had to pick one it would be Drums Along The Mohawk, not so much for the film itself as much as the warm memories it generates of watching it while a young boy with my family. (Actually, I had to come back and edit this. I must add Pirates of The Carribean with Johnny Depp. Of course one needs to be stoned prior to each viewing.)

4.) Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief:

There's only two. While I love Robert De Niro and have worked on some of his films, (most recently Hide And Seek) and I have gotten drunk with Jack Nicholson and Harrison Ford, when we're talking about raw talent I have to go with Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. Just finished "The Devil Wears Prada" with Ms. Streep and I am happy to report that she is still a doll to work with.

5.) Name a work of art you'd like to live with:

The Magster, and I do live with her. It continually amazes me thath she wants to live with me! Only God could have created such feminine perfection. If you mean "art" art, the cover of Zap Comix "Captain Pissgums & His Pervert Pirates". (See featured picture) I have always wanted to be a pirate and the nastier the better! I kinda think I am a pirate, secretly disguised as an old hippie! "AAArgghhhh! Bite me crank, Matey! "

6.) Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life:

What the hell does this mean? "Penetrated" my real life? None. That's why it's called "Fiction". If I had to choose I'd say "Old Yeller. I always loved dogs and this movie just super reinforced my love of our "Best Friend". Other than that, it tore me up for years and severely damaged my little developing psyche. Probably why I think Capt. Pissgums qualifies as "art".

7.) Name a punch line that always makes you laugh:

Always? That's a tall order. The more you hear something the less impact it has. The one that brings a smile to my face though, is from the Smothers Brothers, "Mom always liked you best!"

Well, there you have it. Did you learn anything? Now here's one for you!

If you could be a bottle of scotch, which one would you be? Why?

Tune in tomorrow for my answer.

Pax Tibi

d.