We always pick the coldest day of the year to start to decorate. We went to Mazzone's Hardware to get some wreaths after Mass this morning. We had brought all of the toys we had collected for the toy drive to church and had to do all our chores. We got the wreaths and now I have to put them up with the lights and all the bullshit when it is the coldest day we have had so far this winter. It always happens like that.
Then I have to get dinner ready as we are having company.
I hate Christmas.
I love Memorial Day.
70 comments:
Trooper Scrooge! Visited by the ghosts of Seven Machos, Carol Herman and J. Except the ending is definitely not happy.
Gaudete.
Around these parts Boy Scouts come around selling wreaths. I'm guessing there aren't any Boy Scouts in Brooklyn?
It gives a man an excuse to have a couple of hot toddys.
We have to buy wreaths from the school and from the kid across the street selling for his school. I got a live tree from the store which my wife put in a galvanized tub. After Christmas I will plant it.
Me, I'm so thrilled that a room that has been gutted for a decade is going to be mostly done for Christmas (except for the built-ins). That means I get to have my second full-size tree again, my all music-themed tree. Tra la la, la la la, I am so being thrilled, I'm tickled and trilling.
Can't wait.
(Then, after Epiphany, when that tree comes down, the room will be converted to a dedicated homeschooling room with lots of extra space for at least a chunk of the overspill stacks of books scattered all over the place, both of which Lord knows we can really use.
Best. Christmas Gift. Ever.)
We've got two trees. There's the tree tree in the living room where the presents and decorations go. Then there's the one we put in the door/entry for the neighbors to enjoy too. It's one of those shiny aluminum ones from the '60s. There's a floodlight with a rotating color wheel that bathes it in four different colors.
A couple years ago I started putting up a lighted wreath outside high up on the chimney. We don't see it from outside but the neighbors do. One guy (who lives alone) once told me what a comfort that was seeing every year.
That sounds beautiful, chickenlittle!
Our is a very old one (by this region of the country's standards, anyway), so there are windows everywhere and they are tall. So the "regular" (but very large) tree will go in 3-way bay jutting from the southwest part of the living room, where it can be seen from the front of the house and the south side of the house. The music tree will go in the corner between two window on the north side of the house, near the side door. I don't bother with the backside of the house, which I don't really want people to notice, anyway. ; (
I love Christmas, but there are a lot of people I'm fond of who don't, so that's OK, too, Trooper.
In my neighborhood we have a lottery and then the winner gets put in a giant wicker man and burned alive. They say it is an honor to be chosen.
Oh wait, that's not real, just an exceedingly bad movie.
I was just on the way out to get a tree today too--while wife and daughters were at the mall, but then the truck was stone cold dead. I got it jump started eventually and so I would like to keep it running so the battery will charge back up. The problem is that I don't want to keep the truck running in the Lowe's parking lot and I don't want to leave it at home running if I take the other car. So now I am stuck waiting for them to get home and till it is later and colder to get the tree.
I did make use of the time watching the Pats (barely) beating the Redskins and threw together a nice marinara sauce for later though.
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Got our tree yesterday. We live in Christmas tree farm country, so we go out to the top of a mountain, walk around and find the right one, and the guys come up on a four-wheeler with a chain saw, and cut it down for you. They push it through a gizmo that winds twine around it, so you can handle it easily.
I like to tie my own stuff off, when I'm hauling something, even if it's just a tree. If it flies off on the road, it needs to be my fault, not someone else's. So, I'm calmly tying it off, and the farm hands decide to help. One of them threw the tie over the roof of the Jeep. It's metal. I heard it smack the other side of the car. Shithead.
I usually tip the helpers. They don't do a lot, but cutting the tree down, pushing it through the packing machine, and hoisting it up onto the roof is appreciated, so I toss them a little. Shithead lost his tip this Christmas.
This summer a pine tree collapsed onto my Jeep. I had to cut it out with a chainsaw, which took quite awhile. It got scraped up a bit, but nothing that bad. That's partly why I didn't react more when Shithead threw the tie down over the roof and hit the other side. On the way home, my daughter said, "Hey, this is the second time this year there's been a tree on your Jeep."
Christmas memories.
Thanks rcommal.
Just testing and teasing with that last comment and wondering whether MamaM is still mad at me.
windbag. I am still protective about my truck. A few more years and it will have enough scratches and dents that I won't care so much. Thanks for sharing. I liked your post.
Chickelit: Oh, I know. I deleted those comments just because I was being a thread hog and also--well, if one starts to find one's own comments boring, it's probably a sign not to be ignored ...
Just got carried away, so snatched myself back, is all.
Love that story, windbag! Actually, enjoying everyone's.
Our son just came over this afternoon to help my bride put up the lights outside on trees and house. She's not Sparky Griswold, but there are a lot of them.
I drink beer, watch football, and yell out the scores to my son.
Ha! I think I know who rcommal is now.
Hi! (If it's you. And if not - hi, anyway! :) )
I don't recall you ever being boring rcommal. Sometimes hard to figure, but never boring. And you nearly always give good links.
Hiya Darcy! How are you doing today?
@Darcy & rcommal : It just dawned on me that our silver aluminum tree is a mood tree, continually changing from red to blue to yellow to green over and over.
Hi chickelit. :) I am good. The Lions had me cranky a bit ago because they should have lost to the Vikes, but this crazy play at the end saved them. Whew.
How you?
Getting ready for some Hollywood Homeschooling. Going to watch "North By Northwest" with the family in few minutes. We got popcorn.
Great movie! Love the train scenes.
@Fred. The husband of one of my employees told me about his uncle who bought a brand new truck. Drove it home, got out and kicked the door, denting it. He said, "There. Now I won't feel bad when it gets dinged." Might be an urban legend, but it's a good story.
@rcommal. We homeschooled. Lots of good times. Are you new to it or a pro?
That's a great pic.
I don't have one Christmas decoration in my entire expensive, fab, loft.
I don't care for clutter.
tits.
Hi, Darcy. Thanks, chickenlittle.
Had to go hunt down a holiday recipe.
I still feel new to it because it changes each year and the kid keeps growing older, so I wouldn't say a "pro." But this is the fourth year (started in 3rd grade).
Sorry, that last paragraph was in response to windbag's question and, obviously, had nothing to do with the holiday treat I'm getting ready to make.
*waves at rcommal*
(The only other person I know who uses the impersonal pronoun.)
Darcy: Ha! I think I know who rcommal is now.
Yes, pretty obvious tell. :)
Now I remember why I hate Chicago. Love the lights , love the food, hate the traffic.
Titus has a clutter free casa.
I feel bad for you Titus. You should have something to celebrate the holidays...even if it some Indian stuff from your husband.
I am not suggesting you should do some over the top Thomas Kinkade Christmas nightmare, but I could see you with one of those ultra modern stylish silver trees you see in a lot of shops and boutiques. And maybe one of those Barcelona shitting nativity figurines. It is not clutter, it is called living.
Anybody heard of Girl and The Goat, in Chicago? Food is to die for, Pig Face, delicious! Pulled goat with Crepes, Hen of the woods mushroom ragout? I am at least 5 pounds heavier and a several hundred bucks poorer, I hate shopping, no not like most women.
I just came back from getting a take out order from this Mexican Chain Restaurant...in...gasp...the suburbs.
Well anywho, this is a family restaurant with little children running around and spic bands playing etc.
Two fag couples walked in and one were holding hands and the other fag couple had their arms around each other. I was disgusted. If it was me I would of refused service to them. Young fags, which they were like 20, are like the honey badger and they just don't give a shit.
Maybe your "husband" could send you something from Bangalore or wherever - a card that says "I Vant to Vishnu a Merry Chreestmas, Dank you Berry Mush" or something.
Interesting, Caplight says he misses me , over at the EBLs, in the Hawk thread. Funny, I thought he considered me clutter the way EBL did. Who is Caplight45, Caplight's wife?
Titus said...
I just came back from getting a take out order from this Mexican Chain Restaurant...in...gasp...the suburbs.
I remember when Chi Chi's introduced Mexican food to Wisconsin in the 1970s. Most of us had no clue what a margarita was then either. Wisconsinites have generous hearts and livers when it comes to alcoholic beverages, so they were a big success.
Darcy said...Great movie! Love the train scenes.
The kids loved it, the lesson was a success. The Eve Kendall character reminded me of you--heart of gold.
Caplight45 is caplight, under another name. He wrote that in the long comment thread here.
To wit:
caplight45 wrote...
"I am cornfused. Do you think I'm Meade? I changed from caplight to capight45 cuz I changed email accounts."
Sixty, he still posts under Caplight at EBLs.
I loved Chichis, they went under.
I got really sick after eating a chimichanga at ChiChi's.Yuck.
Well, there is yet another mystery of the interwebs for you. He is their friend, I think they can all take a hike.
I highly recommend the burritos at La Luna in Rutherford, California.
My husband is now back in Mass.
I have a friend that calls me Beaner Schnitzel, cause of my Austrian side and my love of Mexican food.
I got really sick after eating a chimichanga at ChiChi's.Yuck.
I got really sick on brandy once when I was about 14. To this day it makes me wretch.
I still love people who love brandy.
Brandy is OK, whiskey makes me wretch for the same reason as you hate brandy, rum is yum.
It's gin or vodka for me. I guess I favor the clear spirits.
Mount Gay Sugar Cane rum. The very best.
@rcommal: Best advice I ever got from another homeschooler was this: you don't figure it out until you've done it three years. He was right.
@ et al.: Hate wine, but like brandy for some odd reason. Pappy Van Winkle is the best bourbon on the planet. Ron Zacapa Rum is wonderful, but I don't mix it with anything. Matusalem rum is great with cream soda.
The Puritan view of rum.
Girl and the Goat! That's Chef Stephanie's restaurant, who I believe opened it in part with funds earned by competing on top Chef, in one of the best seasons.
Never been there and am not likely to be for a while. Since 2008, some things have been cut right out, but I think it's cool you got to go there. (I'd need to go on my own, of course, since spouse is a long-time and -term vegetarian and the whole meme of that restaurant wouldn't work, jointly. But that's OK. In any case, some day, maybe.)
Was this a holiday treat?
My dad loves Korbel Brandy.
Brandy Alexander or that other famous Brandy Drink found is all Wisconsin Supper Clubs. What it called?
I love Wisconsin Supper Clubs.
Brandy Old Fashion
Rcommal, my friends took me out shopping and out to early dinner, as an early birthday present, I LOVE women friends, so much more reliable than men.
I forgot didn'want to to tell them I hate shopping lately.
An Old Fashioned.
Oops , Titus I didn't see you already posted it.
Also: Waves, etc. (Sorry, busy night.)
I LOVE women friends, so much more reliable than men.
When I swapped out my water pump in my truck (parked in the middle of town, btw) it wasn't women who helped. Guys are reliable. It's just that your expectations are too high. Set your standards a little lower, and see what happens.
Windbag, well yes men can be useful, lol. I have a hard time not comparing men with my late husband., maybe he wasn't so perfect, but somehow after his death all I remember are all the good parts.
Allie, I can't tell you how many Cheeseheads would order "Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet" where I worked. The classic Cheesehead drink. Of course, the calorie conscious would order them w/ club soda. A few w/ sour mix. It's a ham n'egger, lightweight drink kid. Real men and women drink Manhattans, Martinis, or dark liquor straight up.
My brother-in-law, now dead, would drink only Mount Gay and soda from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Scotch the other 9 months. Too much!
I had a shot of 18 year old MacAllen single malt on Thanksgiving. Maybe I will be well enough to have another by Christmas.
Spinelli, I can't stand the taste of an old fashioned, either with brandy or whiskey.
Good imported and micro brew beer is always in my refrigerator during the summer for the non stop guests and family, nothing like a cold beer, cheese and a pontoon boat ride at sunset, it's a Wisconsin thing.
I have one particular old friend, who travels for business and when he's in town, we usually have dinner, about once a year, he seems to want to get me tipsy, it's uncanny. I have upon occasion had one too many with this guy, he's a bad influence.
I suspect he does this for nefarious reasons, but he never gets lucky, you would think he would give up after all these years.
An Old Fashioned is generally a guy's drink. I have never had it other than with bourbon. Great if it is done right, it is often done dreadfully.
A good brandy drink is my wife's favorite, a Side Car. A third brandy, a third Contreau, and a third sweetened lemon juice.
Talking about our favorite drinks is always daunting, but Kay and I have discovered Rye Whisky--essential in a sazarac (the best IMHO) but also great in old fashioned and manhattens--it lacks the sweetness of bourbons, but really sets a good cocktail off.
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