Photo A.M. Moscoso
Every year I surf around the NORAD Santa tracker because nothing says old fashioned Christmas like using NORAD to find Santa.
Jokes aside, it’s a fun site so check it out HERE
Step Away From The Sleigh Big Guy
Christmas 2017
The Christmas Tree That Almost Wasn’t
Photo A.M. Moscoso
I haven’t done the tree thing for awhile.
This year I did it and do you know what feeling came over me as I started to decorate it?
Stringing lights is a punishment job. It’s like the tree’s revenge on you for taking it’s life. It’s tedious, it’s boring, it’s just POINTLESS. Around and around you go and then the lights are up and you don’t get a medal for a job well done. Everyone in the WORLD gets a participation award for doing stuff.
Is there one for stringing lights?
No there is not.
To make it worse I have a fake tree and I didn’t even get that Christmas tree smell on my hands. My hands smelled like plastic.
Oh JOY.
Good thing I wasn’t listening to the Trans Siberian Orchestra. I may have been swept up in the music and just pitched the tree with the light string from Hell over my deck to the dark grounds below.
Eventually I got the lights up and I got the decorations on and as I stood there wondering who I could bribe to take it down and pack it away after Christmas my dog, Hamish Macbeth, sniffed the tree, his tail went crazy- when he’s really happy he spins his tail in circles and then he licked a few ornaments which ‘accidently’ ended up in his mouth and after he spit them back out into my hand he stretched out next to the Tree That Almost Wasn’t and took a little nap:
Photo A.M. Moscoso
In fact, he seems to like the tree. He camps out there with his toys and when I come home at night he runs from it to me, like he’s showing me this cool thing that showed up one day and isn’t it great?
” It’s still here! ” I think Hamish is saying.
Photo: A.M. Moscoso
I’m not counting down the days until the Tree comes down, I’m not thinking about bribing anyone to take it down after Christmas.
I’m thinking my dog loves this thing- and I’m wondering how he will feel when it’s gone.
I wish I could explain to him we’ll have another one next year.
With lights. Lots of lights.
Darn it.
amm
Do You Hear What I Hear?
For me, Christmas is all about the music.
Not the gifts, not the tinsel, not the decorations but the music.
Each year I have a few songs that become part of the soundtrack of the holiday season and so far these are turning out to be my ‘go to’ songs.
Mozart is here, he’s not Christmas but he is energetic and a great listen when I get overwhelmed during prep time. I guess he sort of gets me back on track:
Carol Of The Bells is cool- no matter how you arrange it this piece always sounds spooky. So you know, it’s a must hear over the holidays:
This has not been a good year here in the States, so more then in previous years I’m feeling this song- which didn’t start out being a Christmas Song but is now considered one
Stop The Cavalry:
So there they are. The songs that say Christmas Time.
Happy Listening!
amm
The Christmas Tree Tiara of Shame
I spent six dollars on the Christmas Tree Tiara that my dog wore for 2 seconds.
TWO SECONDS.
We took a half dozen pictures and only 2 didn’t look a dark brown apparition was trying to leap out of the picture to freedom and beyond.
Right after the camera clicked for what would be the final shot, Hamish tossed is head back, the Tiara flew up into the air he caught it and then he tried to eat it.
As I pried the sparkly Tiara from his jaws I became determined in that moment when it felt like Hamish hocked up a quart of spit all over my hand to make sure
THE CHRISTMAS TREE TIARA OF SHAME is used over and over and over again.
Why? Because I am like that…so here it is…the beginning of the many adventures of
The Christmas Tree Tiara of Shame.
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Here the Devilish Sparkler claims it’s first victim:
Hamish Macbeth
Photo A.M. Moscoso
Two days later The Christmas Tree Tiara of Shame claims it’s second victim:
Micey The Cat
Photo: A.M. Moscoso
I got it on Micey, he sat there, I took his picture and that night Micey barfed on my carpet.
I think that Micey won that one.
Photo A.M. Moscoso
The Season has yet to begin and the Christmas Tree Tiara of Shame has struck twice.
Beware.
amm