Fast Five For a Festive Friday

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: It’s four days to Christmas. Three more shopping days. Last working day (but your kids are off from school! Fun!) Let’s face it, if there was a flashing-red-alarm Super Busiest Day of the Year, it would be Friday, the 22nd of December. What better time for a fast and festive five? Ready, Reds?

1.  What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again? 

That God-awful faux-Italian one about the Christmas donkey. I swear, my kids will sing it acapella in the car just to drive me mad.

2.  Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?

Hot Rum Toddy, or, even better, the Kazakhstani Health Drink - one ounce vodka, a generous squeeze of fresh lemon, fill the mug with boiling water. Cures what ails you!

3.  You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.” 

What are these ‘Christmas cards’ I  hear tell of?

4.  Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?

By the time I reach the end of a given year, I have NO desire to go back over it - especially the idiotic political moments or bizarre Tik Tok trends. I do read all the best books lists, then feel put out when mine isn’t there. Yes, I know I haven’t published a book this year. Still.

5.  You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?

The finished manuscript of AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY! Thanks, Santa!

LUCY BURDETTE:

1.  What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?

No contest with ‘I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus’!!

2.  Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?

I’ll try the cranberry cocktail this time please:)

3.  You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.” 

Valentine’s Day is fine too, Julia. There’s no competition and people are hungry for news…

4.  Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?

I don’t want news round ups either, but I do enjoy the best items for cooks and foodies…

5.  You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?

Oh Julia, if we’re going for fantasy, I’ll take 100 pages in Key West mystery #15 please!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:

 

1.  What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?

 

      Holly Jolly Christmas. Argh, now I am singing it. (Which requires the necessary antidote–did you know the cure for earworms is to sing Jingle Bell Rock?  I have no idea how or why  it works–maybe it’s a double negative thing. The black hole of annoying music.)

2.  Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?

 

     I have never had egg nog in my life, or a rum hot toddy, and will never. Cosmos, yes, sold.

3.  You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.” 

 

          It’s the holiday when I say it is.

4.  Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?

 

     I kinda love them. And yes, delighted when I am on them, and superly bitter when not. I should leave them alone.

5.  You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?

 

        If we can skip world peace and the banishment of stupidity,   I’d love the last fabulous 10,000 words of the manuscript that I honestly just BLEW UP and am having to rearrange completely and it’ll be fine SOMEDAY and, Dear Santa, I can only  hope that day comes soon enough. Since my deadline is a month away, just saying.

HALLIE EPHRON

 

1.  What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?

 

Christmas Don’t Be Late by the Chipmunks. TWEEEE. Also sick and tired of the little drummer boy. Pa rum pum pum pum.

2.  Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?

 

Mmmm they all sound good. Let’s have a hot rum toddy.

3.  You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.” 

 

Both. Especially when I GET cards from friends I wasn’t expecting to hear from, those go out after Christmas.

4.  Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?

 

I love them! Especially for movies and tv shows and books. But it’s more than a bit overwhelming.

5.  You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?

 

A really good proposal for my next book. Thank you, Santa!

RHYS BOWEN:

1.  What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?

All I want for Christmas is You! 

2.  Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?

Yuk to Egg Nog. Hot rum toddy sounds good

3.  You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.” 

Mine were all sent out a couple of weeks ago. We have so many family and friends across the world it’s important to stay in touch with them

4.  Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?

Only if I’m on the lists. Then I love ‘em. 

But truthfully I don’t usually read them

5.  You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?

A new knee. Already in place and operating well without any of the discomfort 

JENN McKINLAY: 

1.  What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?

If I had to choose probably Santa Baby. It grates.

2.  Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?

Cranberry themed - preferably with vanilla vodka and on the rocks - hey, it’s 72 degrees here.

3.  You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.” 

I quit cards (see previous de-tradition/what I’m no longer doing post).

4.  Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?

Meh. I never agree with the best of and the who died lists make me sad. Hard pass.

5.  You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?

 

An all-expense paid vacation to anywhere. Seriously. I would happily go anywhere if I could just have seven days straight of no work. Not that I mind work, clearly, but I could just use a respite. A little one. 

DEBORAH CROMBIE:

1.  What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?

Ugh. Tie between Little Drummer Boy and Santa Baby.

2.  Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?

I’ll go with the Cosmo, thanks very much!

3.  You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.” 

I have boxes of cards out on my kitchen island that are probably ten years old. Maybe in December ‘24 I’ll actually get some sent.

4.  Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?

Mostly, meh. It’s almost always books I haven’t read and films I haven’t seen.

5.  You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?

I’ll take the new knee AND a finished manuscript!!

 

 

JULIA: You know how it works, dear readers! Copy the questions below and share you answers in the comments!

1.  What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?

2.  Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?

3.  You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.” 

4.  Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?

5.  You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?

The Dreaded To-Do List

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Well, Reds, it’s that time of year again - one week to Christmas and I have about eight thousand things left to do. Every year, I swear I’ll be more organized and get ahead of it, and every year I… do not. It doesn’t help that I teach at the local community college, (last class on December 13) and I have to deal with finishing grading twenty students and turn the semester marks in to the registrar by the 18th. 

I have so many items on my to-do list - finish shopping, wrap, make up beds for guests, buy food for Christmas dinner, etc, etc, etc - that it’s easier to list what I HAVE gotten done:

1. Mailed out presents to son in Virginia

2. Finished grading *edit on Sunday night: Nope! Still haven't gotten these done!
   

   
   

How about you, Reds? All squared away? Or does your to-do list look as long as Santa’s scroll of Nice and Naughty children?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Ha ha ha ha ha. Sometimes I put things on my to-do list that I have already done just so I can have the joy of crossing them off. Right now, this minute, I have so many things to do that I can’t even make a list, and if I did, I would realize I should just give up because it’s just not gonna happen and everyone will have to deal with it.

 

Facing reality, my true to do list has one thing: Finish my first draft by THIS FRIDAY. So, see ya. Xxx

JENN McKINLAY: I have a book due January 1st so I got ahead of it, but I also streamlined. No Xmas cards this year, decorations are the tree and the outside lights, presents were kept to a minimum and that’s saying something since we only do something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read for gifts anyway (one of my better mom moves when the hooligans were wee lads). And this year (FINALLY) I dumped stockings. My people are grown. They do not need a million tiny things - ugh! - I only kept them going because “tradition” and I recently saw a meme that read “Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people.” And so went a ton of our usual “have to’s”. 

 

I actually have some Christmas joy now. And the only thing on my to-do is to finish this forking book and make peppermint bark! Fa la la la la. 

HALLIE EPHRON: And (As usual) I am WAY ahead of the game in terms of Christmas gifts. I already made a batch of chocolate-covered orange rind for my son-in-law. And, for the first (and LAST… too fiddly) time, a batch of rugelach. I’ve got all the grandkids presents bought AND wrapped. (Don’t hate me) and I’ll make granola (shhh don’t tell them) for my daughters. And that’s about it. 

It helps that I don’t have a manuscript due. Working at my own rhythm without an end date for now.

I *love* getting Christmas cards and each year I send fewer and fewer. It’s harder and harder to find people’s mailing address. But it is SO lovely to reconnect with old friends. So I’m reassessing. But I really don’t like those e-cards – though I appreciate the thought… a topic for another day.

RHYS BOWEN: slightly less pressure this year as Clare and co are not coming because grandson TJ needs ACL surgery ( football of course). So only one bed to make and not a ton of food to cook. Mince pies and sausage rolls for 9, not 15

We hosted neighbors and son and dil for a decorating party so that’s done.

Also as I’ve had knee problems I’ve told people everything they want has to be a gift card or on Amazon. The result of which is a steady stream of packages to my front door. I do still send Christmas cards. I love getting them and staying in touch with old friends around the world although unfortunately the list has shrunk 

I have already hosted my holiday tea and my son’s birthday so now it’s just Christmas Day. 

 

JULIA: I knew Rhys was going to be on top of things because I already received her (and Lucy's) Christmas cards! Sighing with admiration.

LUCY BURDETTE: I got on a roll and sent cards to Shutterfly early. We have the company address and mail them, so we don’t get to write personal notes on every one. But at least they get sent. And I can keep track of address changes right on their website.

We are going to see the grandkids and family ahead of time, so those gifts were all wrapped and sent early. Jenn, your system was so, so clever. Every year I think, this is TOO MUCH STUFF! I will do shopping for Christmas food when we get back to Key West. I have not made a single cookie and this sad state of affairs may not be remedied…

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I have never made cookies so that's one thing I don't have to worry about. I got the tree up, later than usual but at least it's done. Now I need to do our mantle and the dining room table and that's about it for this year on the decorating front. 

I've done most of my shopping–all online–but have not wrapped a single present. I'll probably end up wrapping on Christmas Eve! Which is kind of fun, really, except that you don't get to enjoy the pretty packages for very long.

We will do stockings, because we love them. And there is a seven-year-old to treat! We will do Christmas morning at our house, and probably Christmas dinner at our daughter's (they have two ovens!), and probably only for five or six. Simple!

Oh, I do want to send some cards, even if they are late, but am waiting on my Christmas stamps to come from USPS!

 

JULIA: How about you, dear readers? Are you dusting off your hands with satisfaction for a job well done? Checking to see exactly how late you can order from Amazon? What's done and not on your list?

 

Photo credits: Rawpixel.com (Freepik.com) Gpoint Studio (Freepik.com) Senivpetro (Freepik.co) Cottonbro Studio (pexels.com)

It's in the Cards. Really. Soon.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  Here’s an idea.  A modest proposal, if you will.

How about if we extend the holiday card season through, say mid-January? So you can send Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, solstice, New Years, Boxing day, whatever cards. Without anyone saying—oh, duh,  she’s procrastinating

Because I love getting real card-cards, in the actual mail. I even like sending them. Kind of. When I get in the mood. It’s fun to look a the the list of names, and remember the people, and have a pang of happiness, or nostalgia, or love. And it's extra fun when you are finished.

But yikes. I can NEVER  get them done in time. NEVER.  Just about the time I can say, "Well, okay, then, time to do the cards," it’s like, the day after Christmas. And I’m too late.

But listen.  There’s that whole weird week before New Years where you kind of have a moment to breathe. Why don’t we make THAT card-starting week?

So, yeah, all that is to say I’m getting started now, which means—finding the cards. Forgive me okay? They’re coming. Probably. It’s all in the works.

How do you handle holiday cards? 

LUCY BURDETTE: OH you mean that week between Christmas and New Year's isn't for cards?? I love getting cards, and sending news to folks we haven't seen, but it is a big job. Last year we whacked our list in half and still had a hundred to send.

And sadly, we are label-challenged. that would make it so much easier--to have them all printed out and be able to stick them to the envelopes, no muss no fuss. Another problem--figuring out what's going on the cards. We used to send out a letter and a card. Cut that back to a photo card with a short note already printed inside. But what to say? No one wants to be pinned as the people who brag. But just a signature? what's the point?

Mine are supposed to be on the way too:). Oh wait, special delivery, here they are. Please enjoy the lighthouse growing out of John's head.  And then hope you will consider yourself carded! Have a lovely holiday, Reds! 

HANK:  Too funny!  Love this...

HALLIE EPHRON: Lucy, you're you're "down to" a hundred??? I'm down to about eight. Mailed cards, that is. I channel the guilt I feel about not sending cards into an email writing binge. Same week I do all my charitable giving. Not a form letter or an e-card but an actual message to the individuals whom YES I do miss seeing and want to catch up with. But I love Love LOVE getting cards. My daughter and her husband send one with my granddaughter Franny on it which I adore. My nephew and his wife sent a beautiful photo card - the best part is the calligraphed note and address. No labels for her. All take pride of place on my fireplace mantle.

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: I don't do cards. In the household division of labor, Noel does the holiday cards. Which turn into New Year cards most years, I think? I dunno — I have to say cards are my least favorite part of the season and a few years I gave up on them -- too much stress. So now I just sign whatever Noel puts in front of me. I know it sounds kind of "Bah, humbug," but I really do love other things (lights, carols, cookies) and just don't have time anymore for the other things. Plus, everyone's online now! I do use a great online card company — Jacquie Lawson. http://www.jacquielawson.com She does adorable cards with animation and music — love them and recipients seem to, as well!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I ping-pong around the Christmas card universe: there have been years when we've done a photo card and sent it out to every friend, family member, bookstore owner and librarian we know; years when I've done e-cards (they're so pretty, but it still feels like cheating), years when we send out eight, like Hallie, and years when I get overwhelmed and nothing goes to anyone. I agree with Hank, I love to get real mail, but in some ways, it does seem superfluous in the age of Facebook.

There clearly needs to be a movement to make New Years cards the big thing. It makes more sense - non-sectarian, affects everyone, and best of all, those of us who are always a day late can get them written in the quiet days after Christmas!

RHYS BOWEN: Oh, I do cards. We have so many friends and relatives who live abroad that Christmas is sometimes the only time we hear from them. I usually write and address my foreign cards in November, while I watch TV or listen to music. We used to send over 100 but alas the number dwindles each year as older friends and cousins are no more. I used to write a long message inside each card. Now we do an email newsletter to go with them, which makes the job a lot simpler.   And I've become a big fan of Jacquie Lawson cards because they are so pretty and you get music as well (and I can send them at the last minute without a guilty conscience).

DEBORAH CROMBIE: We've made our own cards for nearly twenty years. First, it was hand-carved, hand-stamped woodcuts. Then it was photos, with a long printed note. Then, a couple of years ago, we looked at the price of double-fold, really nice cards with envelopes and a list that approached a couple of hundred (quite a few out of the US) and said, "ACK."  So we started sending e-cards, but we still do the photos ourselves. And we get later and later. Last year we sent them on the 19th. This year, it's--oh, wait, it can't really be that late, can it? 

We spent hours last night trying to wrangle the dogs--or the cats, if they were handy--into a suitable pose. Do you know how hard it is to get two dogs, both looking at the camera, in front of the Christmas tree? Don't ask. I think we will have one dog on our card...

But we LOVE getting cards, and notes, and even the infamous Christmas letter. 

And I send Jacqui Lawson cards, too. What's nice about those, and about the e-cards we send, is the option to reply. So that way we keep in touch with friends that we don't see often.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: So Reds and readers—how are you doing? Writing cards like mad? Wincing when you get the mail and see how organized your friends are?  (They are SO much fun to open!) What do you think about ecards? Do you notice your cards are dwindling?  Will you give us until the first week of January?  Tell us what’s in the cards for you…

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AND CONGRATULATIONS to the winner from Saturday of Connie Mayo's THE ISLAND OF LOST BOYS is Kait Carson! Please email megan "at" sparkpointstudio "dot" com and let her know where to send your book.