Dear Father Charistmas,

I hope all is well with you and your family, and of course with the reindeer and elves. Please say hello to the North Polar Bear for me, and send my regards to Paksu and Valkotukka.

Here is the gift information you requested:

ClaireBear's Secret Santa Hints List

1. What is your age range? 54 - 54

2. Gender? She-bear

3. Do you have a favorite color? Yes.......

.......Oh, which one? It's green (the yellower greens, especially). I am also fond of the redder oranges, wines, and warm browns. Black is good, too... I am not a fan of blue, blue-green, or purple.

4. Favorite authors/type of book? I read extensively. I like fiction -- whether it's serious, or a good mystery, an intriguing sci-fi (preferably not war-oriented), or a peculiar fantasy. My favorite authors have included Hope Mirrlees, Jane Austin, Wendell Berry (poetry), Charles de Lint (but Newford is getting tiresome), Elizabeth George, JRR Tolkien, Tony Hillerman, and Greg Bear. But there are som many others! Antiquated songbooks (of almost any type) and tomes of old poetry from the second-hand shop are an especial favorite. Oh, and cookbooks! Especially odd and/or ethnic ones.

5. What books have you really been wanting? Surprise me! Nothing in particular.

6. What type of music do you like? Again I am fairly broad minded, as long as it's nothing that would be played on a pop radio station. I like English traditional, English and French folk-rock from the '60s, French Canadian, Breton, African guitar, Scandinavian music, cowboy songs, sea chanties, early music and baroque period orchestral works, flamenco...get the idea?

7. What CDs have you really been wanting? Anything by Pete Coe; anything by Malicorne or anyone like them; also anything you or any Mudcatters you know have recorded.

8. What movies have you been wanting? (specify VHS if you don't have a DVD player) Nothing in particular, other than Rupert (Bear) cartoon episodes. DVDs must be designed for use in the U.S., though, which lets out most of those...

9. What is your t-shirt size? Sorry, I never wear them (but if I did I would be a very short XXL, like any bear). Sweatshirts and strange socks are always in good taste, though.

10. Do you collect anything? if so, what? Dust, pebbles, shells, books, CDs, recipes, spices, scarves, Arts & Crafts movement oddities, West Coast tribal art (that is, art of the indigenous tribes of the northwestern U.S. and the west coast of Canada).

11. What are some of your other hobbies? Cooking, drawing, collage, singing, celebrating holidays, failing to make any progress on decluttering my house and making it aesthetically pleasing.

12. Do you prefer gold-tone or silver-tone jewelry? Silver, and I have pierced ears (but can't wear posts, so only pendants or hoops).

13. Please include anything else you feel is important that would help your Secret Santa know what you would like You need not spend money on me. I would be overjoyed to have a pebble, an acorn, a sketch, or a leaf from where you live, together with your explanation of where it came from and why it is special to you.

Also, I have a very bright eight-year-old son, Martin, who is the light of my life, so if you know of a children's book we could read together or a game we could play, that would be fun as well.

14. Remember that "negative hints" such as allergies might also be helpful. Were you planning on sending penicillin? I hope not, because I'm allergic to that.

Yours respectfully,
ClaireBear