What's a "meme"? In practice, it's a sort of survey that gets passed around on blogs or boards or email lists. In theory...? Omegamom, being a snobby, erudite kinda person, immediately thinks of "meme" as in: Pronounced mehm: "A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another." (The definition is from Dictionary.com; the idea is from Richard Dawkins, coining a word that does to ideas what gene does to biology.) Or is it: Pronounced mee-mee: "A trivial survey of individual information that is all about ME and is transmitted electronically via blogs or emails lists from one person to another." (The definition is from OmegaMom.) Either way, here 'tis, "gakked" from Cubbiegirl: Colored lights or white lights? Both. We do colored lights on the tree, white lights on the house. The real question, of course, should be "big lights or little lights?", or "blinking lights or non-blinking lights". Little and non-blinking would be my answers. Apparently, the latest Christmas light fashion is huge lights. They seem awfully tacky to me. Real tree or fake tree? Real. I know there's a huge advantage in terms of convenience, ease, and cleanliness (no needles in the carpet!) with fake, but the smell of real Christmas trees just transports me right back in time. And the "choosing the tree" trip is grand fun. And if the Omegas could just get themselves together early enough, we could actually go out & cut our own. Maybe next year! I just hope this tree lasts until Christmas; it's turning into a crispy critter. What is your least favorite thing about the holidays? Stress. Shopping. Crowds. Ewwww. What is the one thing that you would like to see under the tree this year? Sigh. An iPod. With 30 GB storage. It ain't gonna happen. What is your favorite thing to do/build in the snow? Cross-country skiing! Not that the Omegas are very good at it, mind you, but we have fun, get exercise and enjoy ourselves. Alas, this year is gonna be a bust, snow-wise. Last year was great. What is your favorite holiday drink? Eggnog with brandy or bourbon. Mmmm. What is your favorite holiday smell? Christmas tree smell! Who is your favorite reindeer? Comet, 'cause he's kozmik! What is your Christmas Eve ritual? We don't have one yet, however, I've purchased PJs for OmegaDotter and I, with plans to open them first, then open the other presents. Are you a Friday after Thanksgiving shopper? You are shitting me. Are you nuts? Voluntarily subject myself to a frenzied madness of competitive shoppers, all searching for the best deal? This sounds to Omegamom like a manifestation of one of Dante's hells. What is your favorite holiday food? A good homemade pumpkin or pecan pie. Store-boughten just won't do--the pumpkin pies are bland, and the pecan pies are a rip-off, mostly sugar goop with very few pecans. How did you find out that Santa wasn't real? I don't remember. I don't even remember believing in Santa, so maybe I never had to cope with the trauma. Who do you want to be under the mistletoe with? Mr. OmegaMom, of course! Have you bought all your presents yet? Ha! Do you spend Christmas with a lot of family? Alas, no. Not much family here in town; we'll have OmegaGranny up for a few nights, and then drive her back home and have a small do with GreatGrandma. Next year, the Omegas hope to do the visit to Mr. OmegaMom's family do, which is Big! And Extravagent! And full of lots of Family! And Fun! (To OmegaMom. Mr. OmegaMom, however, hates going back home. OmegaMom has to spend months slowly preparing him for the anguish.) Do you still make snowmen and snow angels? Of course! What's your favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life. What do you plan to do for New Year's Eve? Ab-so-lutely nothing. What's the weirdest thing you've ever gotten for Christmas? Gutters. But I wanted them. What's the most expensive thing you've gotten for Christmas? An engagement ring. How early do you wake up on Christmas morning? As late as possible. But this is no different from any other day of the year! Sleep is treasured in the Omega household. What do you usually get in your stocking? We don't do stockings for us; OmegaDotter gets a stocking this year, and we've had fun coming up with little gifties to put there.