Saturday 9: Happy Holidays

1. Some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas? I was/am an ADD kid, so I’m selectively shy, usually at the wrong times. I recall participating in the annual ritual of sitting on Santa’s lap (plus,there was photographic evidence). Although, I do not recall what I told him… probably a rambling story of something that happened to be running across my mind… SQUIRRELL! When I had children of my own, their mother and I attempted to take them to see Santa one time, which resulted in screams of terror! The chore was never repeated. Honestly, we tell our children… Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t take candy from strangers. Don’t sit on random laps of creepy old men… Then what do we do?
2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there? I believe I am currently on the NICE list. As in other areas of mythology and spirituality, I do not believe it is YOUR job to give the performance evaluation on MY life. I put in a good day’s work, I pay my own way (and a sizeable chunk of my X’s way), I give to those less fortunate (apparently I will be involuntarily giving MORE on January 1st, because of the fuckin’ Republicans), I give of my time and I don’t harsh the groove of others (well, sometimes it’s my job).
3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest? I barely have the space in my budget to get a meager gift for my kids. I certainly hope the X uses my child support to get them something nice. To answer the question, I didn’t; I hope my friends can simply enjoy the pleasure of my friendship until I get out from under this court mandated poverty.
4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? Does electricity and gasoline count?
5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie? As with any other movie genre, I enjoy different movies for the different feelings they elicit. For a laugh: Christmas Vacation or Scrooged. For nostalgia: A Christmas Story or White Christmas and for fun… The Grinch.
6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day? Yes, but usually I watch one of the movie series I own such as the Indiana Jones trilogy (the 4th movie does NOT count), or the Star Wars Saga, or the now complete Batman trilogy. 
7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party? One of the benefits of having ADD it’s very difficult to remember embarrassing situations, mainly because they occur so frequently.
8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather? Tea… Earl Grey…Hot
9. What will you remember most about 2012? I will be posting a retrospective on 2012 next weekend. The simplest way to sum up 2012 is that it has been a great year. Much has been accomplished and experienced and shared this year that money could not buy and I intend to carry that positive outlook into 2013.