My Dopey Answers to Trisha Faye’s Christmas Challenge … Uh … Sorta

I never was one for following all the rules 🙄

Trisha Faye shared this Christmas challenge by Daphsam (Trisha’s post is here) and although I’m not the most splendiferous at these kinds of challenges, I figured I’d take a stab at this one.

I’m probably supposed to be copying and pasting some rules and other stuff. But it’s Sunday night, people. It’s my quiet-people-free-do-whatever-the-heck-I-want day and I do NOT want to do that part. I’m such a rebel.

Anyhoo — here is my attempt at some answers:

1. If you could invite any fictional character to your Christmas party, who would it be and why?

Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind. My absolute favourite book and film — ever. She is an incredibly complex character, yet so utterly simple. She just wants what she wants. Or what she thinks she wants. And she thinks she wants the love of Ashley Wilkes. But oh, the hell and torment she experiences, only to discover that it wasn’t really what she wanted after all.

Throw in the fact that her spoiled rich girl “Southern Belle” upbringing doesn’t stand a chance against the horrors of the Civil War and what she has to do to survive. Stealing her sister’s long-time beau and marrying him for his money? Sure. Shooting a Yankee in the face at close-range when he’s about to do her some serious harm? No prob.

Yep, that girl is the epitome of strength, resilience, and doing whatever it takes to survive.

She’s also hilarious, sweet, endearing, vulnerable, unquestionably strong and passionate, and tenacious beyond all description. How can one help but love her to bits? Especially when at a Confederate fundraising ball, she is forced to grieve the death of the new husband she didn’t want. Scarlett loves a good party, but dancing is strictly forbidden during mourning. Her top half is reluctantly but “dear God, what will the neighbours think if you aren’t” dressed in black, looking bored and annoyed as she leans on the counter while “manning” a booth and watching everyone else have a good time. But when the camera pans to her feet, under miles and miles of her 1860s skirts her bottom half is dancing a happy jig to the music.

And then … the incredibly dashing Rhett Butler (whom she claims to hate) does something to shock everyone at the Confederate Ball … topped only by Scarlett’s response … (please enjoy this 3:12 video!)

If she came to my party, I’d have to staple her to a chair. If I could stop her dancing long enough. 🤣 Best role model ever.

2. What are your favorite Christmas desserts and why?

I’m not much of a sweets lover, but I do love a little nibble on some melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies (mmm, I made some of those today!).

Annnnd oh, how I love Nanaimo bars!!!

They are a Canadian favourite, named for the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, where they were invented. The first known recipe was printed in 1952. They’re made from a cocoa, coconut, and graham cracker base (sorry, my British friends, you do not know the delights of graham crackers!!!), a custard “middle” and a chocolate top. Yummm! (Side note: I SOOO missed graham crackers during my years living in England! I always took some back with me when I visited Canada)

Here’s a Canadian Living recipe for these fabulous little squares. But be warned: they are positively addictive. Make lots because they freeze well (if they make it that far!)

3. What are your favorite top 5 Christmas songs?

Ummm 🤔 …

Gosh, haven’t thought about this …

Let’s see … I’m not remotely Christian but I love “O Holy Night.” Except that almost everyone sings, “O night, DE-vine!!” and it’s DI-vine!! As in “did” not “deed”!!! 😤😵‍💫

Um … jeez, Louise. Four more … (*cue Jeopardy music*) ⏰ 🤭

Oh! Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano. I’m with you on that one, Trisha!

Whew. Two down, three to go.

How about White Christmas by crooner B-B-B-Bing Crosb-b-b-by? (Only those of a certain generation might understand why I wrote it that way)

Two more. Two more. Two more. Oh, wait! “It’s not a tumour!” (says Arnie Schwarzenegger in Kindergarten Cop) Haha, see what I did there?

OH!! How could I have forgotten this one??

Since I was a little kid, I’ve loved the Little Drummer Boy — again, no religious interest in it — but I just LOVE the music and melody. And hey, how cool is this? My “White Christmas” b-b-b-buddy, B-B-B-Bing in a sweet little “story” with David Bowie and they combine the Drummer Boy with “Peace on Earth.” Four and a half minutes of SWEET:

Annnnd — I just remembered a Bob Geldof and Midge Ure collaborative “Band Aid” effort in 1984 to raise money for famine in Ethiopia — “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

It features the likes of George Michael, Phil Collins, Sting, Paul Young, Boy George, Bono, Paul McCartney and more. It’s the sentiment that I love, not so much the song — although it’s fun to revisit the ’80s — such an evident vibe in this video!

Whew! Made it! FIVE, count ’em, FIVE songs!

4. What is your Christmas decorating style and why? Rustic, Whimsical, Modern, Minimalist, Monochromatic

Uhhh…minimalist and rustic, I suppose. A Victorian old-world flavour, country charm, that sort of thing. I never did fit into any sort of box or description. Even worse at labels. I think they’re dumb in every capacity.

I don’t have much by way of decorations this year, but I do have a super sweet 2-foot Christmas tree on my desk in my “playroom” (creative space for playing piano, making art, listening to music, also my altar and spiritual practice area is in there). A special gift from “my fella.” 😍

I would have loved a few more decorative bits but I barely moved back to Canada from England last year with only some personal possessions, and I had my nasty injury and surgery … and as I’m still housebound and not quite walking yet more than a year later, I’ve not been able to get out to shop for any goodies. And Amazon just doesn’t cut it for that kind of fun.

5. What is your favorite Christmas movie, and why?

Hands down, The Holiday, with Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black and Jude Law!!!!!! My youngest daughter, Willow, and I watch it together every year on Christmas Eve (or as close to it as possible) — even since she and I now live in different cities. Yay, Netflix parties and being on Facetime while we watch! Almost like being in the same room. But not quite. 😭

Aside from the various stories that are unfolding in The Holiday (gotta love it when a film has a few going at once!), Willow and I know full well what the Cameron Diaz character experiences when she goes to England for the first time. Old stone cottage delights that remind us of our own that was 500 years old — such as when she smacks her head on the low beams, or sees the short (but deep!) old-fashioned claw-foot tub, or discovers there’s almost no closet space.

And then there is her terrifying driving experience on a squishy country lane with no shoulder on either side, just a lot of thick bushes and trees, and a huge lorry barrelling down on her (and there’s the “other side of the road” issue) — and the film also reminds us of various other charming, favourite bits of our Canadian selves loving the years we lived in England.

It’s just a sweet, wonderful film — and with fabulous music!! I love it so much, I usually watch it at least one other time in the middle of the year, too.

I know. Pathetic, right? Guess what? I don’t give a rat’s patootie!

6. Write a haiku for this picture.

Nope. Not even putting a picture here. Just … No.

7. Write a funny caption for this photo.

Uh … a caption? Well, I can write something. Whether it’s funny remains to be seen. I guess you can decide. Let’s see … how about this?

Moose Dog: I think my neck is broken.

Stepford Dog: (staring)

Moose Dog: No, seriously.

Stepford Dog: (still staring)

Moose Dog: I can’t lie here like this much longer.

Stepford Dog: (you guessed it)

Moose Dog: Jeez, Louise. The things they make us do for their stupid Christmas cards. I mean, we never make them put up with this tomfoolery!

Stepford Dog: (staring)

Moose Dog: Are you even listening to me?

Stepford Dog: (you got it)

Moose Dog: (tugging, trying to lift his head) Ouch! Cripes! They said this superglue would wear off but …

Stepford Dog: (yep, staring)

Moose Dog: … I’m starting to think they lied. My head’s still stuck to the floor!

Stepford Dog: (staring, staring, more staring)

Moose Dog: Hey, pal, can you gimme a hand and yank on my head?

Stepford Dog: (uh-huh, still staring)

Moose Dog: C’mon, man! I gotta pee! I’m old! I can’t hold it much longer!

Stepford Dog: Mmfphmf.

Moose Dog: Huh?

Stepford Dog: Mmfphmf! Mmfphmf!

Moose Dog: They what?

Stepford Dog: Mmfphmf mmbmfphmp mfphmf!

Moose Dog: (manages to move his eyeballs sideways for a partial view of Stepford Dog). They called you a what?

Stepford Dog: Mmfphmf mmbmfphmp mfphmf!

Moose Dog: A yappy little high-strung hairy thing that can’t sit still? (*Winces*) Oo, that’s harsh!

Stepford Dog: Mm mmfphfm mfbmphmmfphmbm mfbmphmm.

Moose Dog: They glued your feet, your eyelids AND your mouth?

🤦🏻‍♀️

8. What is your favorite Christmas book or child’s Christmas story?

The Grinch. Yep. I heart him. And most especially, I heart Max.

9. What is your favorite Christmas quote?

🙄 (Insert the sound of crickets *here*. Lots of ‘em)

10. What does Christmas mean to you?

Well, that thar is whatcha call a loaded question, Missy! Christmas and I have had a rather, um, tumultuous relationship over the course of my life. At times, the nicest thing I could have said was that it was acrimonious and we were in the midst of a wickedly nasty divorce that lasted for decades. It was such a bully, taunting and tormenting me, and just being a completely insensitive pinhead. I ignored the hell out of it but it just wouldn’t bugger off and leave me alone. Every freakin’ year. Crazy damned stalker.

And then … some big stuff happened … really big … and now … well, Christmas and I might not exactly be Amy-Farrah-Fowler-and-Penny “besties” but for a handful of years, we’ve been huggin’ on each other after too many ugly, painful decades.

This is how we’re looking from my recliner in the corner of my sitting room (remember my “minimalist decorating” comment above):

Well, there you go! Thanks so much, Trisha, for the shoutout (and I’m extending my contest deadline to Dec. 27 so you can breeeeathe!).

Hope you have an enjoyable festive season or time off work or whatever this time of year means to you. And if it sucks for you — I’m sorry to hear it. I spent most of my life there so I get it. Do whatever you can to take good care of yourself until we get to January. I’m rootin’ for ya.

Maybe this’ll help! Check out this fabulous article by Kristie Leong M.D. to get your mornings off to a great start!

And here’s a brilliant story by Nathan Chen — as usual!

A huge “Thank you!” to Trisha Faye and the Good Vibes Club for publishing, and for all the splendiferous inspiring and “feel good” energy you’re sharing with the world!