Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee is the creator and hostess of the  Wednesday Random Dozen.

1. Which Wizard of Oz character are you most like?

The Cowardly Lion

2. When you’re deciding what you’re going to wear each morning, which item do you select first? Why?

I usually wear dresses or jumpers, so that’s about the ony thing to decide on: which one?

3. What kind of animal do you think the world could live without?

Skunks

4. How many Christmas trees are in your home?

I don’t have any up yet, but we usually have the main big one in the living room. I don’t know if these count, but I also have a little 2-ft. or so one and a tiny 6 or 8 inch one.

5. Would you prefer to be emotionless if it mean you didn’t have to feel a heartbreak?

No. I like emotion. But not too much of it.

6. Do you ever experience holiday let-down or depression?

Yes.

7. Do you like Michael Jackson’s music?

No, though I used to listen to the Jackson Five back in the day.

8. Why is it that we never judge people who have their teeth fixed for cosmetic reasons, but every other cosmetic procedure has a stigma?

I think the only cosmetic surgeries that have a real stigma are those involved in trying to look younger. Surgery with all its risks seems a drastic measure for that, and sometimes it can go woefully wrong.

9. Enjoy horseback riding?

No. I don’t like being bounced and jostled, and I am somewhat afraid of horses. When I was little my family all went riding and the horse my mom and I were on together took off running wild, and I still have that fear that a horse will do that and I won’t be able to rein it in, or it will throw me (yes, I’ve watched too much of America’s Funniest Videos) and step on me or hurt me.

10. Shoes–practical or stylish?

Preferably both, but practicality trumps stylishness. I have balance problems so have to wear flats.

It’s sad that so often it has to be one or the other. Why can’t practicality be stylish?!?

11. What was the name of your first pet? Feel free to post a pic.

I don’t remember the early ones, but the first one I remember was a collie named Sam.

12. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done?

I personally haven’t done any yet, but for what my husband and I were planning on together, he has done about a third of it maybe? I’m not sure.

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Click on the button to read more of the details, and you can visit Susanne to see the list of others’ favorites or to join in.

1. Thanksgiving praise service. Our church moves its usual Wednesday night service to Tuesday night during Thanksgiving week since many travel Wednesday, and the majority of the service is given over to whoever wants to share a testimony. To me it is one of the highlights of the year.

2. Thanksgiving Day. Though we should be thankful year round, it is nice to have a time set aside specifically for that purpose. Plus I like that it is an untarnished holiday — no controversial origins, nothing bad associated with it, the time for family gatherings. I enjoyed the extended time with all the family.

3. Thanksgiving food. All the usual stuff, having a meal in the early afternoon so that one clean-up is over, I’m “off” the rest of the day. Then heating up leftovers or making a sandwich in the evening. Plus it was nice to share the cooking with a new daughter-in-law this year!

4. Thanksgiving Day naps!

5. Playing a few rounds of Apples to Apples Thanksgiving evening.

Bonus:

My son shared with me a fun site called Face Ahoy: it’s a collection of photos of faces that people “see” in everyday objects. Some are very cute, some are funny.

Bonus 2:

Magazine deals! Thanks to a post at Skip to My Lou, I saw that Amazon is selling subscriptions to several magazines for $5 between now and Dec. 1.