Bring on the house lights...
...we started last night. One of the local
newspapers had printable maps on their website with the street addresses of the
best displays. There were 10 maps available....I printed out the three areas
closest to the house. There were probably a total of 50 addresses listed. I
brought a flashlight so I could see the maps and give proper directions. I also
brought snacks and water to drink. We ran out of time last night to see it all
(most people around here go to bed about 10pm), so we went out again tonight to
find the rest of them. We saw trailer parks and mansions and every shape and
size of home in between.
There
were some really amazing displays...a lot of the better ones featured
hand-carved wooden figures. Some were all one theme, which was pretty cool. One
had to have been put together by a professional electrician....the entire
outside of the house and front yard was full of chasers all traveling in a
specific pattern. I think Dan liked the skating penguins the best. My favorite
were these angels made of white lights that had wings that moved. And a few
homes had 100-year-old spruce trees adorned from top to bottom...these trees
were taller than the houses! I don't know how they got lights up that
high!
Dan and I are going to
try to save up a little next year to decorate our own house. Of course, our
front yard is not much bigger than a postage stamp, so it shouldn't be too
difficult.
Tomorrow I go to
the podiatrist for a follow-up on my foot. He said to bring a regular shoe in
with me because he might let me leave his office without the walking cast. I
sure hope so...I'm tired of tripping all over myself in that
boot.
I will be working on
Christmas eve, but I don't mind because I'll be getting paid extra for
it.
Time to round up something
to eat. Maybe I can make an omlette without burning myself this time. Maybe I
can manage to not get any shell in the egg mixture
either.
Pain level:
6
Fatigue level:
7
Rave
of the day: I did "Wrapping Presents with Cats" a little while back, so I should
probably give the dogs equal time. Thanks to Ducky for this little
gem...
Wrapping
Presents With
Dogs
1. Gather
presents, boxes, paper, etc. in middle of living room
floor.
2. Get tape back
from puppy.
3. Remove
scissors from older dog's
mouth.
4. Open
box.
5. Take puppy
out of box.
6. Remove tape
from older dog's
mouth.
7. Take scissors
away from puppy.
8. Put present
in box.
9.
Remove present from puppy's
mouth.
10. Put back in
box after removing puppy from
box.
11. Take
scissors from older dog and sit on them.
12. Remove
puppy from box and put on
lid.
13. Take tape
away from older
dog.
14. Unroll
paper.
15. Take puppy
OFF box.
16. Cut paper
being careful not to cut puppy's foot or nose that is getting in the way as he
"helps."
17. Let puppy
tear remaining
paper.
18. Take puppy
off box.
19. Wrap paper
around box.
20. Remove puppy
from box & take wrapping paper from its mouth.
21. Tell
older dog to fetch the tape so he will stop stealing
it.
22. Take
scissors away from
puppy.
23. Take tape
older dog is
holding.
24. Quickly tape
one spot before taking scissors from older dog & sitting on them
again.
25. Fend off
puppy trying to steal tape & tape another
spot.
26. Take bow
from older dog.
27. Go get roll
of wrapping paper puppy ran off
with.
28. Take
scissors from older dog who took them when you got
up.
29. Give pen to
older dog to hold so he stops licking your
face.
30. Remove puppy
from present & hurriedly slap tape on to hold the paper
on.
31. Take now
soggy bow from puppy & tape on since the sticky stuff no longer
sticks.
32. Take pen
from older dog, address tag & affix while puppy tries to eat
pen.
33. Grab present
before puppy opens it & put it
away.
34. Clean up
mess puppy & older dog made playing tug-of-war with remnants of wrapping
paper.
35. Put away
rest of wrapping supplies & tell dogs what good helpers they
are.
Posted: Sun - December
21, 2003 at 11:17 PM