christmas capers

it is the start of the holiday season here in CO, at least for the "L" family. this afternoon we went and got our xmas tree, which every year is somewhat of an ordeal since it involves all five of us piling into the car and driving around to the different tree lots, trying to find one that is not empty as we always leave the tree to the last minute (barrett and family got theirs BEFORE thanksgiving, sheesh) when we finally end up in a tree lot, all complaining because it's freezing and usually snowing, the trees are usually quite picked over and while we are trying to decide "p" inevitably gets emotionally attached to a tree, which is usually dead and browning, and at least in the past two years decidedly "dr seuss" looking (to put it nicely), last year it was missing branches on one side and curved to the right. two HOURS later, we finally get it home, everyone cranky.

this year, when we were getting ready for the tree trek, my dad and "I" decided that perhaps we should just cut our own from the back yard....seriously. apparently they had been thinking of thinning out the trees anyways, but really family? really? they decided on one, cut it down, a small, pretty blue spruce although definitely sort of 'wild' looking, with branches weirdly spaced and poking out at odd angles. after the ordeal of dragging it into the house with 'p' sort of chucking the tree at 'i' to catch until we all remembered that he had in fact just had shoulder surgery....we finally placed it, set it up, and then (once the gloves from outside were removed) we realized why you never really see blue spruces in the tree lot. this is possibly the most prickly, sharp PAINFUL tree that i have ever encountered. so painful that we briefly considered putting this tree on the porch and going and getting a softer one. although as "i' remarked as we were wincingly (is that a word?) hanging the lights, no one that brushes against it will ever EVER do that a second time. kind of like the way little kids learn that when they touch the stove it is hot and never to do it again. at the same time "i" and i say "we should bring barrett over and tell her there's a present in the tree"

after the painful process of tree decorating, we finished putting up the other xmas decorations stockings, holly etc. now we're not terribly religious, but we do have this small, wooden, hand-carved nativity scene figures, all about an inch high that usually get set out on the piano. this year however we were missing both mary and the baby jesus, which left us with a wooden sheep, goat, 3 wise men and empty manger which just looks like a barn yard feeding scene. this also prompted my mother's comment to all of us "if you see baby jesus around, stick him on the piano, i'm afraid the cat may have gotten him". baby jesus is still mia.

all in all a lovely family afternoon. and now we are all attempting to scrub our arms as they are covered in sap and scrapes from the tree. i really do love this season.

on the note of holiday ridiculousness/office party ridiculousness (i'm living vicariously through you all now) here's a gem of clip from a 60s show. the quality isn't great, but it definitely worth watching a least the first 30 seconds. and really, i'm all for silly musical-ness, as you all well know, but this really takes the cake. there are also some TERRIFIC dance moves, take notes for your office functions.