Lights Out!

I like to "de-decorate" the house and yard of Christmas lights between the 25th and New Year's Eve. I have the time off from work and it's easier to do it then.

My technique for stringing lights on a tree, be it indoors or out is to apply them in a "spiral staircase" order. Makes for easy on and easy off.

Since marriage my wife has been the one to put the lights on the tree and I still take them off. However her method of stringing lights is the "wrap every frickin' limb of the tree" method. Granted it makes for a beautifully lit tree, but taking them off is a pain in the caboose.

What used to be a 5 minute lights off -- took me 45 minutes and numerous broken branches. I told her she wrapped lights on the tree like she was locking up Houdini at Scotland Yard. 

Hotch-cha-cha-cha-cha!

My 3 1/2 year old son has mostly figured out the whole Christmas thing. Family, food, presents, and new TV shows to watch. He's made the rounds through Rudolph, The Year Without A Santa Claus, Shrek the Halls, and his favorite, Frosty the Snowman. He's learned most of the lyrics of the songs from repeated watchings of the shows.

What is a hoot is that when he sings Frosty the Snowman he sings it so he sounds like Jimmy Durante, in a deep, low, gravely voice. 

So here's to you, you 3 1/2 year old Jimmy Durante impersonator. Merry Christmas kid!