Nice day, but if you want to get depressed really fast, watch the forecast for the upcoming week(my vacation week by the way)! Canadian air mass surges south! Just because forty percent of the neighborhood is from Canada, it does not mean they want a visitor, nor do their warm, sun-loving neighbors. As of the moment, temperatures are fore casted to stay in the forties for Monday. All this less than desirable weather arrives on Sunday, the first day of my vacation. After speaking with old friend Dave Seatter this morning, my optimistic nature tells me, "it ain"t that bad!" Dave announced it was five degrees this morning in Connecticut, I reiterated "has dementia set in, Mr. Seatter?" Looking at the calendar, this is STILL Fall, those temps are not allowed for at least another month!
Today's local newspaper, chocked full of Christmas ads, a bit of daily normalcy around here, has a FAKE palm tree, at least six feet tall, decked out with holiday light! Some how I can't bring myself to give up the traditional tree. Yes, businesses go above and beyond when it comes to holiday lights, decorating every kind of tree, plant life or structure that will support those lights. Don't get me wrong, it is absolutely gorgeous, but they also go to great lengths to create the atmosphere of the cold, snowy landscapes most often associated with Christmas. So, why buy a FAKE palm tree decked out in lights...a no-brainer!
As for me, if we are talking Christmas trees, I love the real thing. After having a conversation with another northeastern transplant today, I understand why she drives to HOME DEPOT, LOWES or WALMART and strolls through the live Christmas tree department. Ahh, the scent of pine! Thirty bucks for a "Charlie Brown" tree! Keep the tree, I am heading to YANKEE CANDLE for pine scented candles! Maybe, I"ll pick up cinnamon scented, cookie dough scented and apple pie aroma as well, no weight gain guaranteed!
Although, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the real deal concerning Christmas trees, artificial became the way of life during the Fred's News years. Living upstairs from the business, totally convenient, but for those who lived with me, a total understanding of why we chose artificial...heat, heat and more heat! I hate cold weather, being cold or even thinking I might be cold. The average yearly temperature in our Baltic, Connecticut home, a toasty, comfy eighty degrees! Good for me, not the Christmas trees. If Guinness has a record of how fast a fresh cut Christmas tree can drop it's needles.....we far surpassed the record. Oh, under normal conditions you say....that was normal for us!
Picking pine needles out of the rug, even with daily vacuuming, until at least May or June was not uncommon. Many household member wincing in pain as a petrified dry needle, penetrated a shoeless foot, strolling through the "HOT HOUSE"! Sooooooo....to correct the issue, artificial trees, complete with "snow" adorned our home. Yes, the cold weather "electrical shocks" we all experienced increased, but better than a stab to the sensitive soles of the barefoot. Fred the Dog, being most affected by the "shock" from the artificial decor. Poor dog walked around the house, his fur standing on end with electrical charge, just waiting to be petted by some unsuspecting friend! Fred looked like a baby chick with that fur all charged up! A good rub-down with a couple of clothes dryer sheets, help rid him of that deranged charged up look.
As the holiday's passed, the tree and ornaments packed away for their long winter's sleep, out came the vacuum, ridding the rug of tinsel, fake snow( that crap not the easiest to pick up) and yes, those stupid little wire hangers for the ornaments. At least now, that was the only thing that MIGHT remain in the carpet, attacking a unsuspecting barefoot stroller. May be I should set up the sewing machine in the same area, see if we can loose a couple of pins and needles..... what an evil woman!!!
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