Archive for the ‘lights’ Tag
I’m feeling a little lazy today because I’ve spent the last 24 hours watching my better-half also known as the Christmas Elf lose her mind. She’s been pulling containers of Christmas memorabilia from the attic by the arm load. I know if I stand still for more than 5 minutes, I’ll be draped in garlands and blinking lights. We’ve got a huge assortment of lights purchased over the years, we got a mile of garlands, and an incredible number of little elves and holidays knickknacks on every available surface. I wish I was exaggerating but I’m not. I’m hiding in my man-cave attempting to keep a low profile and to keep Christmas from overflowing into my private space. I’ve been successful so far, but I hold little hope that it will last. It’s not that I’m a Christmas Grinch but I’m nowhere near as nuts about the holiday as she is.
I tried to hide yesterday but she kept finding me. Before I knew it and before I can say too much, I was assigned the duties of putting up the tree. Then there were the endless Christmas carols that she was singing to me while she prepared boxfuls of goodies that she’s sending to people and family all around the country. She’ll probably spend more money on shipping those boxes than she did on the gifts contained in them. I’m sure she sees it as her contribution to keeping the Postal Service profitable and I’m sure they’ll really appreciate her concern and generosity. My only contribution so far to the Christmas spirit of the household is contained in this cartoon from a few years ago that I saved and it pretty much describes my thoughts on this entire matter. LOL
Whatever you do don’t eat the icicles.
19 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT
Twenty shopping days until Christmas and still no snow. This weather is starting to freak me out a little. I was out on the deck this week putting away the furniture and had to return to the house to remove some clothing. It was too hot. Can you believe that? Anyway here are some photo’s and Christmas factoids for your entertainment.
*** Germany made the first artificial Christmas trees. They were made of goose feathers and dyed green. ***
Yesterday my better-half took me along as an escort while she Christmas shopped. This was how yesterday appeared to me:
*** If you received all of the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," you would receive 364 gifts.***
Rain doesn’t help my already waning amounts of Christmas spirit. What a mess. I find myself wishing for a good snow storm that would drop four or five inches of the white stuff on us.
*** In Mexico, wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve is said to bring new love in the upcoming year. ***
Last evening we began decorating the interior of the house. A little wine, a little beer, and lots of patience. We made a great deal of progress but it wasn’t easy. Here are a few shots of the debris ridden living room in these “before” photo’s.
*** The poinsettia plant was brought into the United States from Mexico by Joel Poinsett in the early 1800’s. ***
*** Rudolph" was actually created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1930’s for a holiday promotion. The rest is history. ***
We put the finishing touches to the tree and of course the damn cat insisted on hiding underneath and did his best to knock it over. That’s one Christmas tradition we’ve tried for years to change but he just won’t listen.
*** Clearing up a common misconception, in Greek, X means Christ. That is where the word "X-Mas" comes from. Not because someone took the "Christ" out of Christmas. ***
Our holiday preparations will continue for another week or so or until we run out of holiday stuff to hang on other holiday stuff (truthfully that will never happen).
*** Eggnog first became popular in England where it was considered a drink for the upper class. ***
20 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT
Frigid cold last night and a very thin blanket of snow covering everything this morning. I walked outside for a few minutes and the air has that snap in it that I miss so much sometimes. When I can feel my nose hairs freezing and my face being chapped by the cold wind. These are some of the insane reasons I thoroughly enjoy Winter.
The thing I really don’t enjoy is the garbage that’s frozen to my driveway after a rather sloppy pickup by the local trash company yesterday. I needed a freaking ice pick and a shovel just to break it’s hold on the asphalt. Another of life’s little annoyances to kick you in the butt and to help you forget just how sentimental and emotionally sloppy your becoming over a little cold air and a brisk wind. I worry about myself a little when I begin waxing philosophic about weather changes.
Maybe it’s just this junior league hangover I’m sporting this morning. A few too many glasses of a reasonably good Chardonnay will do it to you every time.
I’m being forced by the passing days to complete my Christmas shopping but I can’t seem to get motivated about the holidays thus far. I’ve been avoiding the crowds and the all of the Christmas related decorations and music just through a total lack of interest. I’m hoping for a minor miracle that will somehow infuse me with that hard to find spirit just to keep my better-half happy.
I may be forced to surprise her when she gets home later today. I’ll unpack that beautiful eight foot fake Christmas tree and get it set up for her. I’ll need EMT’s standing by if I do because the shock might kill her. But . . . If I’m foolish enough to set up that tree then chaos will certainly follow. Before she goes to work tomorrow there will be boxes of ornaments, strings of lights, and dozens of feet of tinsel awaiting me. “You were so sweet to put up the tree for me, how about finishing the rest of the decorating today?”. I may have to take a short break, have a coffee, and then have my freaking head examined. Why in Gods name would I do that to myself. Wait just a second . . . .
. . . . OK I’m back. I went away for a while to a happy place where my inner voices told me to shut up, forget the damn decorations, and stop being stupid. Thank God for them. I’m getting in my car and taking my camera to begin another search for a few of those elusive Kodak moments anywhere but where Christmas music is playing.
FA, LA, LA, LA ,LA . . . .. LA ,LA, LA, LA!
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