Friends!
Merry Christmas to you all! How's it going? I am on break and am having a jolly good time doing nothing for the first time in months. I have too many posts in the works to count, but I have been tagged! By Sam! And it's about winter! So of course I'm abandoning everything else in favor for that.
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| As much as I dislike this movie (too sad!), this is real footage of me. |
If you're new here, you should know that I am a snow enthusiast. I love it, and it is one of my absolute favorite things. I call myself Jadis the White Witch, Frozone, or Elsa, depending on the day.
The Winter Wonderland Tag:
Rules:
Link back to The Storybook Journal (the creator of the tag)
Answer the questions; think Winter-y thoughts! Include pictures, if you like.
Tag at least 3 other bloggers, or more if you're feeling ambitious.
1. Name a few things you love about Winter, and a few things you don't love so much about it.
SNOW. I am so obsessed with the snow. I will put up with anything when there is snow.
What I don't like that much is driving in it. Not that I ever do that as I have chauffeurs (aka my parents). But, it is necessary where I live to plow snow. And while that is just about my worst nightmare, it is the life I've chosen, so I must be brave.
When I first got back, I hadn't driven a car in many months so my plowing was terrible (why is going backwards so confusing?) but a week later I was much better because I wasn't so drastic in all my movements. My dad does all of it besides my futile attempts, but I'm his sidekick, his apprentice.
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| If anyone were to ask... |
2. When you were a child, did you "believe" in Santa Claus?
When? Did? Why is this all in past tense, folks? I think the legend of Santa Claus is an amazing tradition. The whole idea is that you have been given so much in life that you give back without any want of recognition or thanks. It is truly a humbling and kind thing. In my house, my parents always taught me that if you do something nice, you don't brag about it. It's a secret. It's hard. That is the message of Santa, so I believe it is an amazing practice.
3. Is there a book or movie that you really love to read in the Winter as opposed to other times of year?
I would love to read Spinning Silver - by Naomi Novak again and again in the winter. I started it in January this year and finished it in May, so I would love to read the whole thing in winter months. I also think of Anna Karenina as very wintery (I read it between January and March), and, as basic as it is, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
As for movies, Anastasia (1997) is definitely a winter one. And Murder on the Orient Express (2017).
4. Is there a particular Christmas movie that you watch EVERY year as tradition?
Well, it depends on who's in charge. If it's my younger sister, it's White Christmas (1954). If it's my dad, it's A Christmas Story (1983). If it's my older sister and my mom, it's A Child's Christmas in Wales (1987) (even though usually only they watch it). And if it was up to me, it would be It's a Wonderful Life (1947). Usually my younger sister (to my mom's dismay) and my dad (to my younger sister's dismay) win.
This year, though, we were all a little burned out on those. So we decided to watch a movie that had a Christmas scene somewhere in it. For some reason we landed on Sleepless in Seattle (1993) which I had never seen. I was not impressed, folks.
5. Do you usually get a real tree or a fake tree for Christmas? Who's in charge of decorating it at your house?
Always real. I'm in charge of helping to get it. In previous years I've dreaded this because it is an all day thing. Usually my dad and sister and I go to our usual spot (out in the woods), find a great one, then spend the next few hours looking around for another one anyway. I will say that I usually write some of my best scenes in my WIP in my head while doing this.
This year, though, it was the fastest we've ever gotten one! It was on Dec. 16th (usually we put it up on Dec. 17th so it wasn't that late for us, but usually we've gotten it a few weeks earlier), and we drove around, saw one, snowshoed to it, and voila.
We all decorate the tree together, though my younger sister has commandeered putting the lights on. And she's usually the one who does any additional decorating around the house.
6. Does your family usually stay home or go visiting (relatives, friends, etc.) on Christmas Day?
We have always stayed home. In years past we had some friends come visit us, but usually Christmas is a really chill holiday.
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| Get it, chill? |
7. What does your family usually do on New Years Eve? Any traditions? Do you ever stay up till midnight?
Usually my younger sister and I stay up late while my older sister and mom go to sleep. And my dad wanders around, sometimes joining my younger sister and I in our efforts or sometimes just doing other things.
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| You've caught me red-handed... |
8. Do you get snow where you live? If so, have you ever built a snowman and named him Olaf?
YES, there is so much snow where I am. SO MUCH. There are not places close to us that rival us. I have built many a snowmen, but I don't think I've named one Olaf? Maybe my sister did once? More along the lines of Frosty.
9. If it's snowing outside, would you prefer to go outside and build snowmen and enjoy it, or would you rather stay inside with a blanket and something hot to drink and maybe a movie or a book?
Go outside go outside go outside go outside go outside GO OUTSIDE. As much as people laugh at me, I, an adult, go and roll in the snow. I play in it. I throw snowballs at people. I pretend I'm an explorer. It's one of my tippy top favorite things to do.
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| I have been known to sing this at the top of my lungs when I leave the house... |
10. When do you start looking forward to or getting excited about Spring?
Never. Winter is my favorite season and I actually get a little depressed when it's ending. I do not like seeing my beautiful snow melt away. No, I do not say "Aslan is on the move", even though that would be the one thing that could have a possibility of cheering me up. I'm just too much like Jadis.
I tag:
I would tag more, but, well...
I don't want to shove this tag on someone who detests winter, ya know...
That's all from me, folks. Do you know anyone who is as obsessed with winter as I am? Besides the fictional characters I mentioned? Any other fictional people I should know about and relate to?
Thank you so much for reading! I hope to get another post out before the year is over but we'll see if that happens. So much snow to play in before I go back to my other home...(people think we have a lot there, but it is nothing. Nothing, folks.).
Happy holidays to all of you!
Chloe the MovieCritic