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#2 did the "Lizzy Borden" on the tree today. It's now standing in the [well, what other folks might use as a dining room].
I think I realized today that there's NOTHING "normal" about my family.
Lawnmower Dave drove us to the tree farm, getting lost himself [and *I* was supposed to follow his instructions?]
We FINALLY got there and Gary [the guy who runs the place and sells firewood, wood chips, and fireworks] told us that all the "good" trees were already gone and that the mud was pretty high out there [looking at my Birkenstocks.] I told him we were game anyway. This IS Texas. It was sunny today, and even 7 straight days of rain dry out once the sun starts to shine.
$25.00 for a tree under 8'. The three of us went off with Dave's bow-saw. ALL the trees looked nice to ME, but Dave's apparently a shopper and wanted to explore deeper. He found several trees that HE liked, and commented on a tree that he said nobody would EVER buy because it had branched into TWO. #2 and I followed Dave around for a LONG time before #2 said, "I think this one has a LOT of personality. Afterall, this was the year of the downfall of the Twin Towers." She didn't just point to the tree that Dave had said no one would buy. She took the saw out of his hand and went to work.
Well, Dave was disappointed, but he helped us even off the bottom, balance the tree in the stand, cut off the little branches at the bottom, etc. His only comment was, "Well, it's not the one *I* would have bought."
So now we have the "twin towers" tree in the room, water and a few aspirin in the "holder". We're too tired from the day's events to start trimming it.
#1 claims that she's sick today. She went to work, but can't rise to the occasion to bring over a mouse to lure Ekans out of the couch. To the poster that asked why *I* don't buy the mouse, it's because he's not MY responsibility. If #1 wants to be lazy today, I can wait until she's NOT feeling lazy and stands up and takes responsibility for her own.
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I gotta ask.
Did Dave know there was a 4' boa loose?
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Of course Dave knew about the snake. It was one of the topics of conversation on the drive to the tree farm. Dave's quite a conversationalist. There wasn't a silent moment on the drive there, OR the drive back. I felt like I should have at least given him money for gas, but I suspect he wouldn't have accepted it. He had a good time talking to people [He's retired, but his wife still works], and doing something he's never done before.
He related a scary story about burning a tree in his fireplace after Christmas one year. He said it was like igniting gasoline. The flames shot out beyond the screen and scared the living daylights out of him. They went with artificial trees after that.
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It just wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't have to untangle the lights from the years past and wonder WHICH light was the "faulty" light. We did all this today, after a scrumptuous breakfast at I-HOP, a shopping trip for Lucky's supplies, and a visit to her place.
I reminded #2 that SHE had placed those lights in the box the last time. [Bart Simpson: *I* didn't do it!] She couldn't remember. #1 was disappointed that we didn't wait for HER to help trim the tree, but had no objections to the ultimate result.
Now that the tree is trimmed, Lucky has been visited, and Ekans is back in the tank with a full stomach, I won't see the girls until sometime later tomorrow. They're going to a club tonight, and #2 will accompany #1 to work tomorrow. All is well on the Western Front.
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I think the Christmas tree will stay in the box this year, along with the other assorted holiday trinkets.Things just aren't so festive with the money bein so tight and it really doesn't hurt my feelings as my appreciation for the holidays was permanently marred from working retail for some 18 years.I be Grinchin'.
I am going to cook the Christmas dinner with all the customary trimmings that accompany a turkey.Maybe afterwards I'll have margarita's by the pool?
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Cap'n, I'm sending cold weather your way. You might need a jacket out there by the pool until the margaritas get into your system. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
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I'm pretty sure he'll be wearing shorts all winter, Pammy. I told him when we were in LV that the restaurant at which we were all meeting had a certain "dress code." He said, "Screw that!" and came in his shorts.
I wouldn't have gotten a tree this year had it not been for #2's visit. I'd really hoped that #3 could have been here as well, but he's going to try and fly in AFTER Christmas. How long can I wait before this tree becomes a fire hazard? I'd really like him to see it, but I don't want to burn down the house. [SO is STILL teasing me about the egg missiles. Burning down the house would be like cutting open the couch.]
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I'll be wearin' shorts only if I have to for a stinkin' job, though it has been coolish here, damn you Pammy ; )
I will add the caveat Anita that allthough I did say that, I didn't bring any long pants any way, hell, I was in Vegas, it was supposed to be hot.And frankly, after the amount of $$$ they made on us we should have been allowed to have went nekkid hat skulking ; 0))))))
Did we even inquire???
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I don't think nekkid hat skulking occurred to us at the time, Cap'n. I must chastise you, however, for putting that awful Mr. Grinch song into my head. It's as bad as the Mr. Ed song.
Just when I thought my luck was turning around, I passed by the room containing the Twin Towers. It met a similar fate to the one in NY, except it fell over sideways. I must wait for the girls to come back to help me get it upright again and I'm sure they're still in bed, probably suffering from hangovers. We need to put something around the trunk to make it fatter. I remember Dave mentioning that one of the screws had gone as far as it could go.
Due to this "minor inconvenience", I just can't get into the holiday mood today. Maybe I'll just run up and get some KFC for dinner. Holiday meals are supposed to be calorie-filled, right? That would do it.
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Anita,
From your description it sounds like you found the perfect tree for reliving your Chrstmas's Past. Is the tree remaining fresh? Did Lucky get to go out for the "hunt and Kill" operation? Most of all, did you and your daughter have fun getting the tree and decorating it?
If the tree is unstable I have a couple of ideas. If it is on carpet, get a small piece of plywood to sit the tree stand on. This will give the stand a steady surface and the plywood will be hidden by the tree skirt. Uh, you do have a tree skirt don't you? If the tree is not sitting on carpet then your problem is the tree itself. This is where Lawnmower Dave wouldn't have picked this deformed tree as either the split or the trunk size is causing a problem with balance. I really think you should have listened to his advice on the proper tree to get.
However, this is the choice you made so you and your family are just going to have to learn to love the tree. Try some hot toddy's while sitting next to the tree. It sounds like you may need some further bonding with it.
I think you should leave the tree up for your son to marvel at. After all, I'm sure that your SO wouldn't think it a true holiday if something bizarre didn't happen. Spontaneous combustion of the Christmas tree would seem to fit the bill for your holiday season.
The Sequoia we selected is holding up fairly well except for the damage inflicted by the cat. Being bored one night she decided to strip all the garland off the tree and was busy chewing up the same when busted. Also managed to knock off a few ornaments, including the little glass bell that we got for my daughter's first Christmas. Broken, my wife was not happy. Thank God we had her declawed or she would be climbing the thing. At least Ekans won't be slithering up your tree.
My daughter will be getting home this afternoon so I will get a full critique of the inadequacies of the tree and deficiencies in decorating. Will be wrapping presents this afternnon as wife is at work. No, there will be no saran wrap and I do a fine job with wrapping presents no matter what Pammy thinks.
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Hey, I just POSTED the article! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/tongue.gif
I DO love a man with a slow, steady hand. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
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Well, Joe next-door came over and got the tree to stand up. He had to move it, as the collapse emptied the water onto the carpet. Yes, carpet, Cornboy. And there's no tree skirt. Anyway, he straightened everything out and didn't think it would fall over again. As soon as the carpet dries, we'll vacuum the dislodged needles from the fall. It's retained the soft long needles, so I think it could last another week or more.
Dave also came over with a gift of a mini-loaf of apple-sauce bread. He made it himself. I bet he's good at gift-wrapping, too.
Dinner was late due to my unwillingness to get in the spirit, so Lucky spent the night. Last I looked, she was snoring on the couch. Everyone liked the dinner, however. #1 even said, "Mom, did you cook this? It's REALLY good."
Of course nothing ever goes as planned and the next plan to fail was the picture taking. Who woulda thunk to check the battery?
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The battery is dead on my camera, Cornboy. Don't you listen? #2 ALSO left today for Illinois. #1 won't be over anymore for the Holidays because Andy is in town [leading her to take #2 out partying last night because Andy thought that his first night home should be spent with the boys.]
SO should be rolling in tonight or tomorrow. It would be nice to take a picture of the tree with Joe and Lawnmower Dave, dontcha think? Joe is a man that Pammy would LOVE. He's married to Diane next-door, but Diane has NO problem when I come to the door and say, "Diane: I need a man. Is Joe free?" Well, yesterday WAS the first time I ever took him up on his offer to help me at any time [day or night] in the year that SO's been on contract out-of-state, but he's still damn cute, and QUITE the hunk.
On to the tree-trimming thing, Cornboy. You're approaching it all wrong, IMO. You have the younger lad who wants to trim the tree HIS way and the older girl who wants to trim it HER way. The Twin Towers Tree is the PERFECT solution. FIRST, #2 trimmed it. #1 was annoyed that she hadn't been invited to participate, but once it fell over [due to the imbalance of a Twin Towers Tree, no doubt], #1 got to trim it AGAIN...HER way. #2 was so frustrated by the tree falling down [not to mention that I sent HER to pick up Lucky] that she wanted NOTHING to do with the second trimming session.
See how these things can work out? All it takes is NO brain at all and feet that trip over each other. [may be purchased from a local discount store if one didn't come with the sufficient genes.]
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If I went next door and said, "Diane: I need a man. Is Joe free?" it wouldn't be the tree I was thinking of. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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I love this friggin' thread yaw'll, it has made my holiday.
I could comment on alot of this content but.....thank ya!!!
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Thank god for good neighbors. I feel much better now that Joe has stepped in.
Anita you have to post a pic somewhere of the family around the tree. If posting is not something you don't want to do given the recent history of internet psychos around here e-mail me one.
I have to see the Texas, two-pronged tree. Make it a family pic around the tree. Maybe you can put little reindeer horns on Ekans and include him too.
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I only know where to buy the batteries that come in bra sizes. You know, the A, AA, AAA, C, D kind. The battery must wait until SO is either in the mood to go to a camera store or moves his car out of the driveway so I can get MY car out of the garage.
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What, they don't sell batteries in Texas? I would like to see Lawnmower Dave. Sounds like a level-headed kind of guy and I'm sure Pammy would be more than willing to check out Diane's Joe.
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Borrow Diane's man and have him give you a ride.
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Some of us wear bras that don't come in 'battery sizes'. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
Pictures would be fun! Show me yours and I'll show you mine. (I always loved that game!) http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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Um, no comment, Pammy.
I want to hear how Cap'n's dinner is coming along. Has anything flown out your kitchen window yet, Cap'n?
Did the family like your gifts, Cornboy? Did #2 daughter REALLY criticize the tree? Will #1 daughter be anywhere near enough for you to "enjoy" all her kids?
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Well, it's already noon here [1pm in Florida, I suppose], and Cap'n STILL isn't cooking and SO STILL hasn't left for Grumpy's house. I love SO being home and all, but during the Christmas season he plays Christmas music constantly. I spent 7 hours yesterday listening to it before I siad, "Can I turn on the TV for a while?"
Fortunately, Grumpy showed up at the door. He likes TV MUCH more than Christmas music. I even made it through several hours of sitting next to him. That's enough of THAT for this Christmas season, I think.
Right now, there's NO beer in the house, a car blocking mine in the driveway, and my ears have heard ENOUGH Christmas music today. Let me know how that attitude adjustment works out, Cap'n. I need one, as well.
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You can drop the thought on the attitude adjustment, Cap'n. SO moved his car and I was able to get beer. When I returned, I asked, "When will you be going to Grumpy's?"
He said, "About 3. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?" I said, "Yeah." He said, "Well, you'll just have to suffer a few hours more of Christmas music." It probably won't seem like so much after a few beers.
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OH LORD, NO BEER!!! AND christmas music??? These are burdens thankfully I don't have to bear.
Though, regarding Christmas tunes; Have anyone heard "Police beat me up for Christmas"? It's set to the tune of Feliz Navidad.It's friggin' hilarious, net searches turned up nill, I'll have to email the radio station.trust me Nita you'll dig it.
The attitude is just fine : )
But it could stand to be just a lil warmer, my feets is kinda cold.It's gray out as well, I expect some people are lovin' it, must remind them of up north, but not moi.Maybe a southern migration is in the works? Prolly not.
All the toys and kids to play with I ever wanted are right here, even though there wasn't one present under the cyber tree on display in the front room, it will go back to a tropical theme tomorrow.
It's a fine Christmas.
I ramble ; )
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Hey Capster, Merry Christmas!
Um...ya better get that bird in the oven soon. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
I decided to forego my traditional Christmas dinner this year, and am instead making a pot of seafood bisque, served in hollowed out sourdough rounds. OH man I can taste it now. *mouth watering* I've got a bottle of champagne chilling, which Chris can help me with. And I think I'm about to open, as I start cookin. It's just the boys and I at home this year, which is kinda cool. I didn't want to go anywhere, just stay at home and cook and drink and celebrate and EAT lol. We've got two kinds of fudge which I made on saturday, huge cinnamon rolls we had for breakfast, some garlic butter grean beans with dinner and for desert...pumpkin praline cheesecake. I think my pants are already getting snug.
Hope your dinner comes out as wonderful as you are. xoxo
Wavin at JBT, Anita and Pammy Merry Christmas you guys!
edited to add:
I'm so bummed. The only channel that "Christmas Story" is on today is one that I don't get *pouting* boohoo
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[This message has been edited by ToFuYumMmy (edited December 25, 2001).]
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Houston: We have turkey in the oven, basted in a delishous mustard concoction that is better than what ya buy at the Honey Baked store, my curiosity peaks.Minor flaws in planning have occured, the taters that were supposed to be in stock, aren't, the Y2K stash saves me once again, but they are of the powdered variety and won't be quite as good. The molecular make-up of this ananamlid sucks when it comes to taste, Iv'e run a full spectrum analysis and have concluded that we fucked up.
ToFu,
Any rrru um in your desserts ? Mmmm ery Chrissssssstmas : )
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Hey Cap! No rum in the deserts BUT...2 cups of sherry in the bisque
Don't you worry yourself about the taters, have another beer or two and you won't notice the difference heehee http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
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Yes, yes, and no. Thank God on the no.
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I haven't even started on dinner yet, but I'm gearing up for it now, making my chronological list of prep's etc.The timing is everything.
My sis turned me onto what sounds like a great turkey recipe using olive oil, dry mustard and worsteshire.I'm gonna make a paste with those things and coat the turkey inside and out and bake as usual.She said she had it over Thanksgiving and wanted to try it herself.If it's good enough for her....We shall see.
The other items are the usual dressing, giblet gravy, rolls, yams, mashed taters and green beans. I had thought about cream veggies as well but..... too much like work.I will instead k.i.s.s.
For an appetizer we have Budweiser.
Accompanying the meal we have Budweiser.
For desert we have Budweiser.
Just jokin', I have a nice bottle of 97 Petite Syrah, recently drawn from the cellar, to go with the meal.
And now it's time for an attitude adjustment to get the ball rolling : )_
Merry Christmas Yaw'll !!!
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You were right Tofu, I really didn't notice much difference ; )
That recipe was pretty good but in the future I would make a LOT more of the baste and use it more frequently, I may even inject the turkey with it next time.The oven in this house cooks hotter than the one in the former house, live and learn.
All in all dinner was a success and it was a nice relaxing day.
What are yaw'll planning to serve for New Years dinner? I'm leaning towards prime rib, that would be a fitting 1st meal of the year.
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I hadn't realized that was you, Cin. I'd made a huge pork roast for Christmas with Lucky and the girls. Andy was supposed to come, and he's a big eater. That was all I could afford within the timeframe available. I THOUGHT about making the baked green beans, but Lucky doesn't like green beans. She's more a fan of cauliflower and MUST have her baked sweet potato! [Heh]
My girls aren't meat eaters, and I could almost hear #2 moan when I picked up the roast at the store, but she LOVED it. #1 loved it as well. It's always nice when a plan comes together, dontcha think?
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Cin
Watched 'A Christmas Story' a couple times the last few days. Definitely one of my all-time holiday favorites.
"You'll shoot yer eye out!!" still kills me!
'Scrooged' (Bill Murray) is an all-time favorite too. Was able to catch it last night.
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SO had a working battery in his camera and took a few pictures of the Twin Towers Tree [now pretty much on its last legs.] I wanted #3 to see it. I can scan it and E-mail you a copy when the film is developed, Cornboy. Sorry...it has no people around it.
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I ALWAYS forget something. The recycling/mulching people won't be picking up trees at the curb until the Jan 9-11 timeframe. I suspect we'll take down the tree tomorrow and hold it in the backyard until they come.
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Anita,
So what did you think? Did the fresh cut tree hold up better than the store bought ones? Did the aspirin help any?
My wife took our tree down yesterday and said the tree was still in pretty good shape with hardly any of the needles falling off. It had been up since December 8th. BTW, we did not use the aspirin.
The living room seems much larger and emptier now that the sequoia is gone. It kind of grew on me even though my daughter thought it was ugly.
It seems that this is the way to go with Christmas trees. The real question. Did you have more fun chopping down your own tree with your daughter and Lawnmower Dave than going to Christmas tree lot?
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For sure the tree lasted longer than the store-bought numbers, Cornboy, but we do this whole tree thing so rarely that the fact of that didn't register too much. Yeah...it WAS fun to see #2 cut down the tree [maybe ESPECIALLY because it was the tree that Lawnmower Dave said no one would buy.] It was a bummer that it fell over, but that's the way life goes sometimes.
SO had NO complaints with the tree. Even grumpy [his brother] said that his artificial tree was dropping "needles". [This was on his visit the day after the tree fell over and we still couldn't vacuum up the needles lost in the fall because the floor was wet.]
I feel quite confident that I could keep the tree up for another 8 days [until the recyclers come to pick it up], but SO doesn't share that confidence. His house...spontaneous combustion...I'll go with whatever he wants. You know MY history.
It WAS fun, and I've enjoyed looking at the ornaments gathered for the last 10 years. Neither of the girls enjoyed the dried up "blow-fish" that I purchased on a trip to Myrtle Beach some years ago. "He's LOOKING at me!" I didn't get any more ornaments this year for Christmas, so maybe this was the last on that, well, until they start producing grand-kids and SO and I hide somewhere in the rain-forest.
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Well I'm glad that you have had fun for this Christmas. It sounds like it was probably a bit more festive than the last few, what with the girls coming home.
You are probably right to take the tree down now. Given some of the tales you've shared, I am quite sure anything (from spontaneous combustion to an attack of termites) could happen at any moment.
I'll be anxiously awaiting the pic of your tree. Is it one of the tree standing upright?
BTW,regarding grandchildren. If and when they start popping out do not hesitate, immediately pack up and move to the rainforest. While somewhat entertaining, they (grandchildren) also remind you an awful lot of what you went through raising your kids. Personally, once I finish with the youngest I am done raising kids, even on a part time basis.
Though it is kind of amusing to laugh at your children when they start complaining about their kids' behavior, latest illness, hobby, etc., etc. I think this aspect of having grandchildren proves that there is karma in this world or at least what goes around, comes around!
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More guilt yesterday, Cornboy. We gently took the tree out of the stand and laid it outside in the backyard. I looked at it out the window and thought, "I killed you, NOT to eat you, which would have at least provided nutrition for my body, but to USE you as a trinket in my home for a few weeks."
It never ends.
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Anita:
You not only eat catfish and chickens, but you are thinking of eating pine trees. Wonders never cease. ;o)))
Z
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Hey, it's January 6th. How come I haven't seen the ubiquitous diet thread here, yet?
Or have y'all managed to break the binge-purge cycle of the holiday season?
Or . . . ?
(As for me, I didn't gain any weight. I worked double-shifts through most of the holiday season)
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