Steve Lundeberg, that fount of cool blog ideas, had a post the other day about “always and never.” Dangerous words to use, his father-in-law believed, and I agree.

That said, a few things qualify. Steve, for instance, never uses a batting glove. He never eats cranberries or pumpkin pie, and he always bounces the basketball three times before shooting a free throw.

That got me thinking about my always and nevers. I offered these first few as a comment on his blog, and then I came up with some more:

– I never eat licorice. Any color. Ever.

– I never drink coffee.

– I always, assuming I have change, give something to the Salvation Army bell ringers.

– I always make my grandmother’s baked corn pudding for Thanksgiving, and I always have clam spaghetti and fish on Christmas Eve in honor of my other grandparents.

– I never eat Whoppers malted milk balls. Got sick on them over at a friend’s house at age 6. Haven’t touched them since.

– I always sing the alto part to the “Hallelujah Chorus,” any time I hear it. I knocked myself out learning that part in my high school choir, and I never, ever want to forget how it goes.

– I always open my presents on Christmas MORNING.

– I always sing the birthday song when calling a family member on his/her birthday.

– I never put the toilet paper on with the paper hanging down inside, closest to the wall. That’s just wrong. It’s outside or nothing.

– I have never dressed a dog. However, AnneMarie’s pug, Chester, looked positively dapper today in his new green Christmas sweater.