Christmas Spirit Checklist

It's almost Christmas, and I thought I'd run the checklist of my usual things that get me into the Christmas spirit. Didn't do too badly this year!

Performances

• Messiah
• Nutcracker (x2)
• Festival of Trees dance (I really miss this one. Wish we were still together.)
  
• Misc. church gigs

Music

• Herb Alpert Christmas
• Spike Jones
• SHeDAISY
• James Taylor
• "holiday" playlist on my iTunes
• "holiday" playlist on Pandora

Movies/TV Specials

• White Christmas
  
• It's A Wonderful Life
• A Christmas Story
• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (do I have this on DVD?)
  
• The Santa Clause
• The Santa Clause 2
• The Santa Clause 3
• Charlie Brown Christmas
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original, not the Jim Carrey abomination)
  
• Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Home/family

• Tree (and all decorating) up
• Smelly candles to make up for fake tree
• Presents under tree
• Christmas Eve with family at S3's (church gig)
  
• Christmas Brunch with family at country club
• Christmas morning brunch with Mom & Dad (in the morning)
  
• Christmas dinner with family at Mom & Dad's (in the evening)
  
• Gifts purchased as necessary

Friends

• Gifts purchased and delivered as necessary
• 2007 cards mailed out (I suck)
  
• Cards/gifts received
• Internet friends emailed/texted/chatted with as necessary (almost everyone...)

Work

• Christmas music 24/7 since Dec. 1st
• Play the snowball fight game online (you simply must try it!)
• Gift basket food all eaten (only got one small box of candy. businesses weren't very good at this this year)
• Alcohol consumed on Christmas Eve day (at work)
  Kentucky moonshine (remarkably not bad!)
  Bushmill's whiskey (the good stuff - very smooth!)
  Absinthe (illegal in US until this year; black licorice-y)
  Beer (had to wash it down with something!)

Miscellaneous

• Stand in line at post office
• Stand in line at stores
• Go to WalMart (thank God, no!)
  
• Eat Christmas cookie (hopefully this afternoon!)
  
• Eat Christmas fruitcake
• Drink eggnog
• Drink hot-buttered rum
• Buy Tom & Jerry batter
• Sing Christmas carols
• Wear Santa hat (truly an oddity for me this season)
  
• Drive around to see lights
• Go to Christmas party (not invited to any...*sad face*)
  
• Go to Midnight Mass
• Wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

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Well, to fulfill that last one...I wish I could wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas personally. I caught most of you that I felt I needed to, but still missed a couple. May this Christmas be especially rewarding to each and every one of you! And particularly (in no particular order) to those I associate with the most, old and new: Moose, Kamey, Rachel, M, Jessica, Carnalis, Biscuit, Dana, Vixen, Queenie, Robyn, Ms. I, Ella, Cowgirl, NY Diva, Q. I wish you all the very best!