HOW DO YOU LIKE IT? (#29)
It amazes me sometimes how fast time really flies. The year always seems to start of slow but as the summer comes and goes, the year goes into warp speed! And so does each week. We are already upon another Tuesday so time to ask that infamous question you are all too familiar with - How Do You Like It?
The day is usually very low key with us all just hanging around conversing about things of the past, current events, and often trips that we'll take in the coming year. I kind of absorb all the activity by lying on the floor, listening, while soaking up the roaring fire that is usually going. Somehow this always puts me in a meditative-like trance. And then we cap the day off with a nice family dinner, usually some beef course like prime rib or fillet mignon, the trimmings, and holiday cookies and fudge for dessert. Oh, and I can't forget the premium red wine that my brother-in-law always seems to whip out on these type of occasion. Let's just say it's not uncommon for it to be a triple-digit (cost) French wine. Pure heaven, silky smooth!
So that's how my Christmas day usually goes. Looking forward to hearing from you all how you like to spend yours.
Still rolling with the holiday theme, I'd like to ask, "How do you like to spend your Christmas Day?"
For well over 30 years now, our family has always celebrated our Christmas on Christmas Eve. As many of us as possible attend Christmas Mass, followed by a huge feast of sorts, and then the opening of gifts. So on Christmas day I like to sleep in a little later while dreaming of sugar plum fairies. I get up, shower, and usually head over to the house where the Christmas activity is to be. It used to be my mom's but as of the last four years, it has been at my little sister's place here in southern California.
The day is usually very low key with us all just hanging around conversing about things of the past, current events, and often trips that we'll take in the coming year. I kind of absorb all the activity by lying on the floor, listening, while soaking up the roaring fire that is usually going. Somehow this always puts me in a meditative-like trance. And then we cap the day off with a nice family dinner, usually some beef course like prime rib or fillet mignon, the trimmings, and holiday cookies and fudge for dessert. Oh, and I can't forget the premium red wine that my brother-in-law always seems to whip out on these type of occasion. Let's just say it's not uncommon for it to be a triple-digit (cost) French wine. Pure heaven, silky smooth!
So that's how my Christmas day usually goes. Looking forward to hearing from you all how you like to spend yours.
posted by Tony @ 12/12/2006 12:00:00 AM
17 comments
17 Comments:
So what do sugar plum fairies look like? I"ve never seen one not even in dreams...
How do I LIKE to spend my C'mas day? At home, playing with my toys in pj's or sweats. (Watch the snide comments there, bud! ;) )
But for the last 30-some years I have to get all "gussied-up" and go to a hotel for my in-law clan C'mas dinner. It's the most anti-C'mas thing I can think of, but it earns me "passes" to go "camping" the following summer. **wink**
Very low key and quiet - sleep in, a good cup of coffee, the pup on the sofa and usually a good movie or a book...
This year I won't be going home for Christmas in Ohio, my man will also be in Germany, so...I will be spending it at Casa Jimmi with him and some friends this year.
I'd rather just spend Christmas Day at home, but I'm usually travelling.
Ugh.
I have a lovely Christmas day
Usually the whole clan is gathered and it is my traditional task to make breakfast - scrambled eggs and real sausage for once.
After the breakfast, the munchkins (aka the nephews) are eager for the prizes. Then chaos ensues - with christmas tape playing and a fire going, gifts get opened/passed. We always try to do things one at a time but this never works.
After the frenzy, half the family leaves to visit the inlaws. The other half either watches Christmas TV (like Scrooge) and/or gets ready for dinner.
Christmas dinner is either turkey or ham - and lots of cookies/pies.
During dinner there are the calls from kin from afar.
That is my 'how do I like it'
I have not had this in several years, now that I live in Arizona.
I miss it.
We start our Christmas with a gathering of neighbors and friends on Christmas eve where we inevitable end up singing Christmas carols around the piano.
Christmas day we spend at home, hopefully with a good storm blowing and a toasty fire.
We get up, have a nice big breakfast and then off to open our gifts after which we begin preparing our Christmas dinner while listening to Christmas music.
After dinner it's calls to the family, old holiday movies, and cuddling.
Christmas Day consists of family tradition even though we're not close (geographically) anymore. Morning is breakfast of aebleskiver with various jams and syrups, and fresh fruit. Then opening the gifts. Then, the rest of the day is involved with cooking as we usually host dinner for our friends who have no local family to spend the holiday with. Then then next day (or next possible weekend whichever comes first) we drive to my folks to spend a "holiday" with them.
We open our presents on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is usually lounging around the house and relaxing.
For many years we would gather at my parents place for Christmas. As my parents have gotten older, to put less stress on Mom in particular we've begun to go out to a restaurant for a nice dinner as a family, with my cousin and her kids attending also. In the years since I've lived here in CA, I've begun to spend the day before NY's eve in the East at Mom and Dad's, and we sort of have two Christmases, one is had by my immediate family less me, and then another one over NY's with the extended family which I participate in. Life has just gotten so busy and even at the holiday we just have settled into a schedule that seems to work for all of us. I also like traveling largely after everyone else has return to work :)
My family does the celebrating on Christmas Eve; the Boyfriend's on Christmas Day so last year, we spent them apart. (We're slowly working up to the "Holidays Together with Families" thing.) Last year, I spent the day at Disneyland, hanging with a few friends, and enjoying a $75 dinner. It's the simple things in life for me.
For 60 years (no kidding) we went to Grandma's house. Things have changed over the last ten years. Extended family still gets together on Christmas Eve...dinner and gifts for the kids. Day is spent everyone with his or her own family. We usually do gifts on Christmas morning....unless we're out flying the friendly skies like we do many times......ugh. Always try to fit in a good meal, music, concerts, and late-night Christmas Eve service at church. Lots of candles, music, quietness.
Y'all get a full report AFTER Christmas Darlin'.
Huggs, etc... Bunny Lynn
the little ones wake us up early, and ask us to check and see if Santa has come, we tell them yes, and I wait with camera while they come into the dining room where all their toys and things Santa brought them, then we open our presents, eat a huge Christmas lunch, then usually go to my dad's that evening.
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In the past, Christmas was always about presents. My brother and I would get up early and wake up our parents and we'd open gifts, then we'd have cookies and milk, and then mom would spend the day cooking dinner and we'd be outside playing with our toys.
Christmas in recent years has been stressful. There's always a little guilt about spending Christmas with one parent and not the other (they're divorced). My mom isn't the easiest person to hang out with for a whole day, and her mother was even worse.
This year, we plan to spend Christmas relaxing. We are getting to the point where we won't take any shit from our families and are looking out for ourselves.
It doesn't matter how I want to spend Christmas Day because it's always spent with family (and I have no say in the final outcome).
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