Christmas is different this year! :)

[John Schmidt]

Well, it's that time of year and after the hoopla surrounding Thanksgiving I started getting hints re. decorations. The hints weren't veiled in the least such as..."where did you store the tree after taking it apart, do you know where my deco lanterns are?" Or, "I wonder if all the lights will work on the tree or will we have to replace them with a new string!"  About that time I went looking for the tiny tree she made some years ago by stringing small green beads on a wire framework and it took on the appearance of a tree. Once I found it, I set it up on my hassock used with my overstuffed chair used for watching various sporting events through my eyelids. I then decorated it rather modestly and announced that "it's been a rough year so we're cutting back on decorations." It was really quiet in the house for a short while, followed by "you're not serious...are you?" No dear! 

I kinda like it though, not nearly as messy as the big one. I especially like the tree topper. 


I have located an old Santa on a Harley toy gift. It's about the size of a shoebox and battery operated. You punch a button and it starts to light up, rock back/forth, and makes an irritating sound like a Harley. All the while a growling voice sings "Head out on the highway!"  Only goes on for about 30 seconds so very realistic. 

[Charlie McCready]

Thanks for reminding me John. I have a couple of those Santas on the trikes.  Need to dig 'em out.   Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[Jess from VA]

That's about the extent of my Christmas decorations too John.

I have a ton of that stuff under my stairwell, but am not interested in dragging it out.

I also think Christmas decorations don't belong up the day after Thanksgiving.  More like a 7-10 days before.

What irritates me are the people who put up these giant combos on the house and yard that blink and flash and turn colors, just like some kind of Las Vegas casino.  They are all over my neighborhood, but thankfully not across the street where I would have to close all my blinds and curtains to prevent the flashing inside my house.

I have a large silk flower wreath with some small green and white lights on it (no blinking), I hang in my front picture window right at Christmas.  (until next year)    And Done.  

[da prez]

  I have one of those Harley toys in a box. It leaks oil

   John ,how often do you put water in the tree. 

                                              da prez

[John Schmidt]

  I have one of those Harley toys in a box. It leaks oil

   John ,how often do you put water in the tree. 

                                              da prez

Ross, it's not a real tree so I've cut back to once a week. That lets the carpet dry out between waterings. 

[old2soon]

      Since I've been single I no longer decorate nor do I even put up a tree of any sort. Gave away ALL my Christmas stuff to a non profit here in town and the young couple across the street. Seems like once the kids left well you know. While I'm up north with my Brother we'll make a trip or three to see whatever Christmas lights are to be seen.  so Merry Christmas to All my Brothers and Sisters here in the VRCC!                                             RIDE SAFE.

[carolinarider09]

      Merry Christmas to All my Brothers and Sisters here in the VRCC!                                             RIDE SAFE.

Merry Christmas to you sir.  May the season be bright and merry. 

Merry Christmas to all in VRCC.  I feel blessed to be part of this group. 

Merry Christmas to you all. 

[Jess from VA]

So I thought maybe I might put up a string or 10 of lights on one of my big front Nellie Stevens holly trees.

So I look for the several boxes full of lights in all the usual spots (sheds, spare bedroom, closets, under the stairs) and no luck.  This occasional/random memory loss thing with getting older is pissing me off.  Where in the hell did I put them?

Then I remember; after not using them for some 10 years, I tossed them all out a year or two ago because storage space for me is always at a premium.  I used to have a little 4 foot artificial tree for the house, but it's gone too.  It's just as well.... I was apparently smarter back then too.  Putting up lights, what was I thinking?      I'm not buying more.

I do have my one box with some nice small inside decorations and my big artificial wreath for the front door.  That will do. 

I have a little painted metal wind up Popeye on a bicycle, that my mother had as a child (30's?) that was always on our Christmas trees growing up.  It no longer works but that's OK; a reminder of my happy childhood. 

[0leman]

In the last 50 some odd years my DW and I have been together we have always had a Christmas tree.  The first was a pinon pine tree that I cut while working.  Didn't have a stand for it, use a couple pieces of 2X4.  After kids arrived it was a family trip to the woods to get one.  Since I was working as a forester, I knew where the good ones where and it was a family outing.  After I was instructed to cut a certain tree that was taller than the ceiling of our home, I learned to take a tape measure with me.  Kids grew up and trip to the woods stopped.  We now have a nice artificial tree.  Looks good doesn't have to be watered. 

Outside has gone from hanging several strings of lights on trees and setting up Deer, to just putting rope lights on our porch railing. 

[cookiedough]

my wife got creative, surely not me, and have a 5ft wire plant stand 4 shelves and wrapped lights around it permanently all year long by the living room window.  From a distance, it looked like a christmas tree and since ONLY the 2 of us in house now kids never come home, is good enough for us.   

Have 2 artificial trees and lights in basement, if kids ever want them they are there sitting collecting dust in basement.

When we went thru my parents upstairs of house,  we left for new owner several dozen or so boxes of christmas decorations and a few artificial trees as well not wanting them.  I did take 2 ceramic pretty bulbed 2 ft tall christmas trees made in early 1970's looked them up and actually worth something like 80 bucks each now much to my surprise.  I kept one still in basement, and 1 of my kids wanted the other one for her house. 

I was lucky enough to find a buyer willing to plumidge thru about 100,000 items left in parents house since me and my brother ONLY took about 5% of their stuff to keep.  I was sorta sad to see so much of mostly my mom's knick nacks sit but where am I going to put all that stuff?  Even if we had an auction sale and sold it all, would net NO more than 5 grand total, so not worth the hastle was our thought.