Christmas spirit

* Favorite Christmas movie I have to agree that Love, Actually is a great movie and makes me think of the holidays - or the holidays make me think of so many parts in it?

* Least favorite Christmas movie I like A Christmas Story, but my daughter is a Christmas baby and I still remember it playing on the TV All. Night. Long. in the hospital. So, I think it will be a while before I can sit through it voluntarily again.

* Favorite Christmas song Let me just preface this choice with the declaration that I love Christmas carols. I grew up singing them and loved going through the nursing home, or in groups (including Latin!) that went around neighborhoods singing - I can't deny my hippie roots; I'm just a Kumbaya kind of group singing gal, what can I say? I remember singing this particular song in Chorus class and really loving it because it was new to me and fun. I thought the Muppets version might win Pen over.

I have to agree with Tempe, that O Holy Night is a very powerful song.

* Least favorite Christmas song This is a hard one for me (see above) I mean, I get tired of songs quickly, too, or the overdone pop versions, but still love the sentiment of listening to or singing Christmas songs. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer? And songs like that farce, I suppose.

* Favorite Christmas food Mema's Christmas cookies! The story goes, when my dad was little he embarrassed my Mema (his mom) so much at a party by eating so many of these cookies that she had to ask for the recipe. And now we have them every year at Christmas. My sister and I have taken over baking several batches as well and sharing with neighbors and co-workers (suckas! Let me go before the holidays!)

* 1 thing you WANT for Christmas A new bottle of perfume that I smashed in Italy?

* 1 thing you NEED for Christmas A job?

* 1 thing you can't wait to GIVE for Christmas I have something for my niece and nephew that I'm excited about, but just in case their parents popped in, I don't want to reveal. My cousins and siblings have decided to adopt a family instead of exchanging gifts, so that's been rewarding and fun to shop for as well.

* 1 thing you HOPE for Christmas The economy starts to rebuild?

* Random addition to the Christmas list of your choosing I love sitting up at night in just the glow of the Christmas tree. And the smell of a real live tree. One year, I thought I wanted a themed blue and white (silver) tree, and asked for ornaments and decorations only in those colors. I have since come to my senses and added color. I do still use just blue and white lights, though. I really like tin ornaments. Or wooden/carved. Or ceramic decorations. Rustic, I suppose. And I like Reindeer, Snowmen and Santa Clauses. I don't really get Nutcrackers.