Someone else.

WYR forget a friend's birthday or have all your friends forget your birthday?

Have my friends forget mine. Because I really don't care (in fact, sometimes wouldn't mind) if they forget. 😀

WYR eat a blueberry pie or a blueberry muffin?

Oooooooh, food! Um...muffin.

WYR write two short stories or one story the length of those two combined?

Hrm. I'll go with the longer one since I write too many one-shots.

WYR drink a hot chocolate mix or your own proportions of cocoa and sugar?

The latter. Cocoa mixes in the package are way too sweet for me.

WYR listen to old/original versions or updated versions of Christmas carols?

I'll go with updated.

WYR handmake a present or buy one you know the recipient would like?

Handmake. It's always more satisfying

WYR be completely sugar free for two months or completely gluten free?

Probably shouldn't say it, but completely gluten free.

I eat way too much sugar, and am not sure if I could do without. As for gluten - one can replace bread with nachos (they are gluten free, right)?

[Second answers on handmaking - at least if including my writing in "handmade" - and on own proportions of cocoa and sugar.]

If you were Catholics, would you rather make two weeks on a monastery or two months on a pilgrimage?

I'm honestly not sure what all each entails. it if a pilgrimage means a chance to see Israel and the sites of Paul's missionary journeys and all that, then definitely!

Specifications.

A Monastic retreat means:
* one or two weeks with no TV, no radio, no internet, no recorders of grammophone, CD or casette recorder type;
* but WITH praying with monks or nuns at least some of the set prayers and going to Mass and confession and communion.

A Pilgrimage means:
* WALKING from where you live or from a later starting point (at least 100 km or 60 miles from pilgrimage goal)
* talking to other pilgrims (optional, at least in theory, but usually done)
* taking the time it takes to arrive (some people with busy scheduals take a week or a month each year and start "next year" where they left off "last year")
* carrying your clothes and other stuff while you walk (a sleeping bag is optional, since there are, in Spain, pilgrimage hostels, open only to pilgrims having a pilgrim's pass and checked each day if they have been walking the walk from last hostel)
* not staying more than one night in a hostel, unless you are excused by sickness or very bad blisters.

Did I mention a pilgrimage means getting blisters? If you drink too little water and carry too big a pack, it may also mean getting sores between the legs. If you have to scanty clothes, it may also mean you get a sunburn.

There are smaller pilgrimages, the main ones in the Old World are:
* Jerusalem (with Bethlehem and Nazareth as usual other goals)
* Rome (traditionally this may include visiting Assisi as well, I would not do that after 1986, but Loreto, yes, I would go)
* Santiago de Compostela. Which is where Saint James of Zebedee's relics (whole body) was transported miraculously in a stone ship after his martyrdom.

In the Americas, Santiago de Chile is an accepted substitute for Santiago de Compostela. Probably some relics (parts of body) taken from Compostela.

In both Spain and Americas, the Marian shrines are also there: Our Lady of the Pillar (where she appeared in a bilocation - it was before she died, resurrected and was taken up in Heaven), where She appeared to St James and Our Lady of Guadalupe, where she appeared to a local shepherd of Amerindian stock (in Méjico).

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
Coordinates: 42.880602°N 8.544377°W

Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
Coordinates: 41°39′25″N 0°52′42″W
(on Ebro, in Zaragoza)

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Coordinates: 19°29′2.4″N 99°7′1.2″W
The new Basilica houses the original tilma (or cloak) of Juan Diego, which holds the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (We are talking of a miraculous image)

Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral
Coordinates: 33°26′15.57″S 70°39′6.50″W

My experience if of the Spanish pilgrimage, I did not go to Zaragoza, perhaps should have.

I know less about how pilgrimages are arranged in Holy Land.

BTW, your turn.

Wow. I'd still go with pilgrimage (Israel, all the way). 🙂

Oops, sorry.
WYR build a snowman or have a snowball fight?

That's hard. It really depends on the group that I'm in and what I'm wearing. Snowball fight? Snowball fight.

WYR live in a Science Fiction or a Fantasy world?

There was a time I'd disregard the sci-fi entirely. Now, not so much. But I remain true to fantasy! 😀

WYR ride a camel or an elephant?

Uh...elephant. Camel I've ridden.

WYR give a gift you know someone will love or receive a gift you love?

It's so much fun to find such an item and gift it!

WYR put a present in a gift bag or in wrapping paper?