What holiday traditions do you and your family celebrate?
(Geez, it’s December - I should be posting MORE!)
The earliest tradition is probably the extended family get-together/Christmas Eve party every year. All the relatives from the whole state of California used to come over to my grandparents’ and we’d be loud and crowded and the usual fare of making the kids (us) have a mini recital of our respected learned instruments (to show off) and sing Christmas songs. Off key. Nowadays, it’s just my dad’s and his siblings’ families and the few cousins that live nearby. This year it’s my uncle’s turn, but his sons are working Christmas Eve, so we’re doing it the day of instead. I looked forward to this huge family reunion every year when I was younger. I still do now, but wish it could be as big as it used to be - the San Diego relatives really bring the party with them :)
The second-longest tradition was my mom’s decorating of the house. She used to love doing it (again) when we were younger, but got tired of all the work after a while. Well, this being my absolute favoritest month/holiday/season of the year, I wouldn’t stand for that. So my sisters and I picked it up the year she “gave up the reigns.” Of course, given her tidy and somewhat obsessive nature, she’d step in and fix some garlands or sweep and hang something here and there. She still does and eventually helps.
Side-story: My dad didn’t want to be involved in any of the fuss this year. So I just asked if he and my sister could stop by a house we own in Daly City (where we dump all our other junk) and pick up our tree there. He and I both saw some long cardboard boxes made for holding Christmas trees, so all I had to do was find it and get it. It’s not an easy place to park either btw, so we don’t enjoy going there all the time. He and my sister did go and he got it out and said that yes, he was sure this was the one. When they got home and took it out of the box, it was 4 feet tall.
I don’t even…
Next tradition is my sisters and me watching Home Alone 2 every year. We just found it funnier than the first and came up with our own inside jokes for it. Lots more gags and jokes that build on the last movie. Just so much more epic. Lately, it’s just been me watching it every year. But whatever. “TURTLEDOVES.”
Along with that is our video game traditions. We’d play Christmas NiGHTS on the Sega Saturn/PS2 that has easter eggs if you play it the day of. With Animal Crossing (GameCube), there’d be a reindeer walking around town (his name is Jingle) and he’d give your character exclusive Christmas-themed (Santa, rather) items. We’d only play these this one day of the year for the heck of it.
My aunt started going to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra shows (or are they concerts?) in San Jose the past few years and would invite us or other relatives. It’s not so much an “orchestra” as it is a LOT OF MOVING LIGHTS and some rock-and-other-genre twists to Christmas carols. They’re awesome, but beware the lights sending you home with a seizure…
My personal tradition also as of the last few years was watching the anime Princess Tutu all through the month, one episode a day. It’s a magnificent story that speaks to the writer in me and plays a lot of Nutcracker music in the background. So, yes. :) This year marks the 7th time I’m rewatching it.
Speaking of which, I’d also watch other Christmas or winter (or anything with snow) movies through the month besides Home Alone 2. The Nutcracker Prince (featuring a very cracky-voiced Kiefer Sutherland), er….cracks me up listening to him, but I still watch that among others every year. I should do Anastasia sometime soon.
Lastly, it just doesn’t feel like December without Scrooge. I decided to keep it a little more “fresh” for me by being a stage mouse this year and thereby keeping me on my feet more. I should post about that experience sometime later.
If you can count it, getting sick and fat is definitely a tradition. :)
This year, we have this little boy and likely buying him a lot of doggie sweaters as part of our new tradition:
How did you celebrate your last birthday?
I never got around to this question, so I thought it only fitting I answer it today. :)
Well, I celebrated with these lovely folks at a little place somewhere in the great unknown called Disneyland. And a few days before (on my actual birthday), we did some group karaoke. On a school/finals/work night too, wow.
Oh, memories. How time flies.
Is your life more comedy or drama?
Sigh. Can it be both?
Drama because of how much of it there is, and comedy because the drama is so stressful and ridiculous we can only laugh at it?
But what family doesn’t have any drama? And over-the-top ones, at that?
What I’m going through right now (again, ridiculous) is definitely more drama than comedy. It’s completely unnecessary, twisted, and involving more people than should be. And it’s just part of a cycle I wish could END. The other parties and myself are frankly quite sick of it. What gives it a little humor is how sad and very predictable a certain part of it is. And its irony. They just don’t learn.
Hmm, comedy? Those are the parent moments. The generational and cultural gaps give my sisters, cousins, friends, and me plenty of material. Of course, there’s the frustrating sides of those too. But sometimes there’s no greater delight than hearing your parents fobbing out and/or imitating their accents or how they pronounce “war.” Other priceless moments would be the pranks :P And others’ fobouts. Good stuff.
Is there such a thing as too much chocolate?
Are you kidding? Do you know who you’re asking? ;D
I think I’ve told several people, I don’t care if I get diabetes - if I die because of my sweet tooth, at least I died happy.
Have you seen the ratio of sugar I put with my coffee?
Eh. But this is about chocolate. So….no. There’s NEVER such a thing as too much. For me.
I love how it’s one of the comfort foods that releases those feel-good enzymes or proteins or whatever they are. And how the dark kind is the healthy kind, with the anti-oxidants and whatnot. And aside from anyone who’s possibly allergic to them, chocolate is EVERYONE’S guilty pleasure, to some extent. Come on, dieters. Fess up.
What’s your favorite photo?
Oh, well…since I just got back from a wedding…
(I have more, but that’s what my blog’s for ;) )
Do you say what’s on your mind?
……not really. :\
To be honest, sometimes I don’t really have anything on my mind when I listen to things. I just go into simply listening mode, being the perfectly attentive audience or cathartic vent-ee for the speaker/message.
When things do stir me, my tendencies are to wait for others to say what’s on my mind because I believe they do it better and embellish more. I wait for everyone to go around and see if all my points are covered….THEN I may add the P.S. at the end if something in my mental note-taking was missed.
Most of the time, I’m just that people-pleaser. I’d adopted this “shut my hole and do what they say cuz I’m sick of hearing them go on” or “I don’t want to drag this out into a year-long debate with no real winner” attitude from some members of my family. In other words, if I just submit, they’ll shut up. And boy, do some of those family members just love the sounds of their voices.
With friends and peers, I don’t want to come off as intimidating or a depressing killjoy - though I believe I fail with the latter a lot. I know, I know, I’m encouraged to be more assertive and give an opinion when we go around in a circle…. but I’m just not wired for giving responses so freely….?
There are few (rare) times I feel the need to speak up, but I still fall back on waiting for someone else to go first and see if they cover my points before giving my two cents.
When I get emotional, though, that goes all out the window. I find my refuge for saying what’s on my mind (and more) through journaling and writing. I trust when I die, whoever digs them up and goes through them, will get that better understanding of me.
Are you a morning person or evening person?
I think more the latter.
Nighttime is cool. The color black is cool. The moon is cool. Sneaking around in shadows is cool (when it’s not creepy). There’s a reason Batman is awesome. (Not to mention most popular/profitable DC hero)
That totally obvious logic aside, while I try to do as much stuff in daylight as I can, I’m definitely more of a night owl. One of the reasons creative writing classes are always during evening hours is because that’s when the brain is most creatively active. I do get more productive in that sense, in that time frame. My sister - a graphic designer at the Art Institute - is the same way.
And there’s always that other side of people that comes out when they’re not in the school/work environment that makes you love spending time with them. I feel “younger” when I’m awake at those hours.
I forgot, but there’s also pretty cool nocturnal plants and animals I’m fond of as well. And myths (true or not)! Why do you think some of the best and classic folklore is set in the night? Freakin mummies and vampires and zombies walking around, owning the graveyards and your brains/blood if they can catch you? Three Wolf Moon shirt?
All awesomeness. You can file me in that category.
What do you wish you were better at?
Sigh. So many things.
For one, cooking. If I could make something that isn’t pasta/noodles or out of a box, I’d dance in the streets. My sister graduated from a culinary school - something I’d had on my bucket list - but even she admitted getting the coveted chef positions in restaurants takes years. Before you’re allowed that privilege, you’re just a glorified dishwasher in those kitchens. Eh, I’d be content learning the basics of a little of everything and experimenting. I want some SKILLZ! And the ability to hold the knife the correct way.
Another thing is learning to let go. I think I’ve gotten better with this over (a loooong) time. People and things change, and I try my best to emulate life the way it was before they left…but you can only go so far. This was hard for me in emotional terms especially, because I can hold grudges for a very long….uh….let’s say years. In the end, though, it holds you back from changing fully into a more mature You 2.0 yourself. With my sisters and family and the “particular way” we grew up with each other, it hasn’t been easy to do “something new” and become the bigger person or humbling myself and apologizing first. But I know it’ll eventually do something for them, at least have them give it a thought.
Hey, I noticed I unintentionally got some people into slightly changing their habits of interrupting other people talking (something I absolutely abhor), by changing how I am around them first. Really gotta thank my friend for paving the way and doing that to and for me first.
Do you believe in aliens or life on other planets?
I’d think if they were out there, we would’ve seen them already. Perhaps Men In Black is a biography ^_~
About me
Say hi, Louie. Let them see your beautiful ears. Come on, Louie!
