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Let there be lights
Dec. 17th, 2005 05:36 pmToday was designated for studying. My last final is Monday, and I am not prepared.
But try as I might, I was getting nowhere. Outline in hand, eyes on page, my mind remained aloof from the process and disengaged. 3 hours of this, and you're pretty frustrated - not only was I not getting anywhere on the homework, nothing else was getting done, either.
And so I paused to talk to Amy, and then to listen to my heart, and they were both telling me the same thing:
What do you mean, you haven't done anything for Christmas?
The Christ-moose that Ferrett purchased back at Thanksgiving was still a large box in our kitchen, providing extra flat surface for junk-gathering, but not really fulfilling its designated function. And so I decided that I would tackle the moose-building project.
I have to say, yard moose technology has vastly improved since the last time we bought a moose for the holidays. That was the first winter we were here from Alaska, and it just seems so appropriate. It remained on our yard until time to mow the grass, because it was handy to flip on the lights and instruct people that ours was the house with the moose. But it was a giant pain to put together - several wire shapes connected only with plastic ties - and it did not survive the summer. This moose, however, is self-supporting, with hinged appendages and metal hooks. It only took a few minutes before I had him standing in the yard.
That was so simple, I decided to pull out the light nets I bought on clearance last January and decorate the shrubbery. But then I realized that we lacked extension cords. Ferrett agreed to take a trip to Target with me.
"And let's get a Christmas tree," I said.
Christmas trees have been a sore subject between us. Though in theory a live tree is always best, I prefer a fake tree because of the ease of lighting and the lack of mess. Ferrett always opposed, and I wasn't so married to the idea to make a fight out of it. But the mess issue has meant that two out of the last three years we've never gotten around to a tree. And so he made the ultimate sacrifice and suggested that we get a fake tree.
When we first came in the store we came upon a pile of "Special Order" prelit trees for only $29.99, but they didn't even have a sample out, so we went back to the rest of the trees. The tree selection at Target was dominated by prelit trees, which would seem like a good idea, except I have a very specific way I like to light a Christmas tree and these would not allow it. They were also quite expensive, any that looked decent. Finally we spotted one 6-footer, an "Portland Pine" that was not prelit, not insanely expensive, and not too big for our space. It was also not avaliable in a box anywhere. We checked with a clerk, and he checked the stock and told us that they were all sold out. We asked if we could buy the floor model. No.
After checking the other trees and finding nothing satisfactory, we decided to check out the $29.99 special again. When we got to the pile of boxes, there lying on top of the rest was a box of a different size.
One 6', unlit Portland Pine.
We both sort of...looked at it. Like it was a mirage. Then we looked at each other. Then we brought it home.
There are those moments of serendipity in your life when small things fall into your path and give you great happiness. It's silly to call such a minor, consumer moment a "Christmas miracle," but I think it's even sillier not to embrace the joy that such a moment brings.
We're putting it up in the morning. Having gotten out of the house, I managed to be put in two very productive study hours. Now I am on my way out of the house to celebrate Yule with friends, and Ferrett is posting pictures of the moose.
And I feel like I'm finally getting a taste of the season.
But try as I might, I was getting nowhere. Outline in hand, eyes on page, my mind remained aloof from the process and disengaged. 3 hours of this, and you're pretty frustrated - not only was I not getting anywhere on the homework, nothing else was getting done, either.
And so I paused to talk to Amy, and then to listen to my heart, and they were both telling me the same thing:
What do you mean, you haven't done anything for Christmas?
The Christ-moose that Ferrett purchased back at Thanksgiving was still a large box in our kitchen, providing extra flat surface for junk-gathering, but not really fulfilling its designated function. And so I decided that I would tackle the moose-building project.
I have to say, yard moose technology has vastly improved since the last time we bought a moose for the holidays. That was the first winter we were here from Alaska, and it just seems so appropriate. It remained on our yard until time to mow the grass, because it was handy to flip on the lights and instruct people that ours was the house with the moose. But it was a giant pain to put together - several wire shapes connected only with plastic ties - and it did not survive the summer. This moose, however, is self-supporting, with hinged appendages and metal hooks. It only took a few minutes before I had him standing in the yard.
That was so simple, I decided to pull out the light nets I bought on clearance last January and decorate the shrubbery. But then I realized that we lacked extension cords. Ferrett agreed to take a trip to Target with me.
"And let's get a Christmas tree," I said.
Christmas trees have been a sore subject between us. Though in theory a live tree is always best, I prefer a fake tree because of the ease of lighting and the lack of mess. Ferrett always opposed, and I wasn't so married to the idea to make a fight out of it. But the mess issue has meant that two out of the last three years we've never gotten around to a tree. And so he made the ultimate sacrifice and suggested that we get a fake tree.
When we first came in the store we came upon a pile of "Special Order" prelit trees for only $29.99, but they didn't even have a sample out, so we went back to the rest of the trees. The tree selection at Target was dominated by prelit trees, which would seem like a good idea, except I have a very specific way I like to light a Christmas tree and these would not allow it. They were also quite expensive, any that looked decent. Finally we spotted one 6-footer, an "Portland Pine" that was not prelit, not insanely expensive, and not too big for our space. It was also not avaliable in a box anywhere. We checked with a clerk, and he checked the stock and told us that they were all sold out. We asked if we could buy the floor model. No.
After checking the other trees and finding nothing satisfactory, we decided to check out the $29.99 special again. When we got to the pile of boxes, there lying on top of the rest was a box of a different size.
One 6', unlit Portland Pine.
We both sort of...looked at it. Like it was a mirage. Then we looked at each other. Then we brought it home.
There are those moments of serendipity in your life when small things fall into your path and give you great happiness. It's silly to call such a minor, consumer moment a "Christmas miracle," but I think it's even sillier not to embrace the joy that such a moment brings.
We're putting it up in the morning. Having gotten out of the house, I managed to be put in two very productive study hours. Now I am on my way out of the house to celebrate Yule with friends, and Ferrett is posting pictures of the moose.
And I feel like I'm finally getting a taste of the season.
