Merry Cheddar X!
Some holiday themed to dig into this week.

1. What was your most memorable present you received as a child? Good or bad.
The one that stands out immediately is the Atari 2600 game console way, way, way back in the late 1970's at the huge house in Catonsville, Maryland.

2. What is your most favorite holiday memory? Tradition?
Easily my favorite is my entire hometown in Vermont turning out for the re-enactment of the Christmas story down main street in town. From Mary and Joseph being turned away at the Inn, to the angels signing above the shepherds to the final Baby Jesus in the manger in the barn further down the street, its a wonderful experience and I'm able to table my anti-religious attitude for at least a couple of hours to take part. Its also a great time to reconnect with old friends and get all nostalgic about when we were the shepherds huddled around the fire with the angels above us. Some years are just far to freakin' cold for words though and that sucks some of the fun right out of it. There is something special about standing in someone's front yard with the whole town singing Christmas songs.

3. Hot cocoa or hot apple cider?
Yep. Like them both but love hot apple cider.

4. Egg Nog. Yes or yuck?!
Yes. Love it but not too much as its a bit thick.

5. What's your favorite Christmas song or carol?
Eartha Kitt singing "Santa Baby" or Jimmy Buffett singing "Christmas in the Caribbean".

6. What's your favorite Christmas movie and why?
It's A Wonderful Life because its just such an uplifting movie. I will be very sad when Hollywood decides to remake it with car chases, gun fights and Matt Damon or worse, far worse, Colin Farrell.

7. Do you spend the holidays with your family or with your friends or neither?
I usually go home for Christmas but not because of the holiday specifically. I go home because its a longer holiday break than most and it makes more sense to get more time with my family if possible. We will see about this year's events as we're not heading back east.

8. What is the most thoughtful gift you've ever given to someone?
I think that anything made for someone is special, either something more tangible like woodworking or ceramics or something less tangible like a special story or song or memory. It aligns more with my concept of the season, its not about spending massive amounts of money and having a huge tree and covering it with decorations. Its about sharing a little piece of oneself with the people you love.

The , go get some!