Is your tree up yet? Do you do lights and all that stuff? Wreaths on the doors? Does the local paper photograph your castle every December?
My cats have always loved the C’mas tree. It creates a new canopy to nap under. The balls are fun to bat. However, a new member of the raccoon Yahoo group, has a unique problem:
Anyone have any advice on how to keep my baby girl [raccoon] from thinking the Christmas tree is “vacation property”? I honestly don’t think I have ever saw her more excited then she was the day the tree was put up. This is our first Christmas together so we are on new ground here. … I have established the rule of when she is playing upstairs the lights are to be unplugged. So far our main rules are unplug the lights and keep the toliet covers down. We didn’t put candy canes on the tree this year because that would be one less thing to make the tree exciting.
OPEN THREAD! And ho, ho, ho …
We’ll be doing well if we have it up a week before Christmas.
I may not put one up at all this year, but I do like to put lights in the windows …
we do like driving around and looking at C’mas decorations on people’s houses.
Some of them are just awful! 🙂 And we make fun of them. Then some are stunning, and we ooooh and ahhhhh.
Some of them are just awful! 🙂 And we make fun of them.
Heh, heh, heh. I thought we were the only ones!
Have mercy, some of it is just AWFUL!! Tacky beyond belief.
There’s one house (and trust, we will go looking for it next weekend) that displays so many lights and so many ugly-A displays in the yard and on the roof and in their trees that we literally pulled over and parked because we were laughing so hard. We couldn’t believe it. And we weren’t the only ones pulling over, either.
Oh, it was bad. I’m sure their neighbors must HATE them.
You must have been right at my neighbors house! We call it “Las Vegas Christmas Style”. Next year they want to add a device to their outdoor speakers that will have their lights flash in synchrony with the beat of the music… which oddly enough isn’t Christmas tunes.
Oh dear god. That must be awful. No music!
Here, the fire dept. thinks it’s totally cool to have some of them dress up as Santa and drive up and down the streets hanging from a fire engine — with their sirens blaring at full blast, and constantly — to wish everyone a Merry C’mas.
Well, every time I hear those sirens as they drive by my place, I jump 10 feet.
Oh, that is tacky.
Maybe a pet can accidentally chew the wires during the day.
OK, that was mean. But so is subjecting neighbors and their pets with something so awful. Can’t they do that inside their own home?
Like this? [WMP required] Bet the neighbor’s love these guys…:{)
Peace
It sometimes makes me wish we’d all go back to the days before christmas lights. Everyone used to decorate without lights, using wood bulbs, angels, and wreaths. It used to look so understated and elegant (I’ve seen old pictures).
Now, one month in every year, Las Vegas spreads out to engulf the entire nation.
Of course, so many do decorate very well with lights..but I think the ones that do use them judiciously.. and in conjunction with other , non- lighty, decorations 🙂
Oh, so you’ve driven by my next-door neighbor’s house? We think that they must drive around in January and pick up people’s trash off the curb. Sort of like the Island of Misfit Decorations.
If you look to the left you’ll see the deflated remains of the six or seven giant light-up inflatable snowmen that get turned on each evening.
And in the evening, with the lights on…
Toy soldiers, choir boys, candy canes, Mary & Joseph, Christmas trees, lots and lots of reindeer and snowmen everywhere — all along with the American flag.
Of course they’re Republicans!!! And all the neighbors really, really hate them.
That’s what my girlfriend used to call me when she couldn’t get me turned on at night, too.
And all the neighbors really, really hate them.
No kidding.
And no taste. Sheesh!
.
CNNi has improved lately with social impact documentaries on Human Rights in the Middle-East Muslim countries, Africa on abuse of women and HIV-AIDS, Eastern Europe and women trafficking issues. Lots of work remains to be done.
Decades ago the U.S. was seen as a beacon of Justice in a wicked world, where one could turn to and get his/her spirit lifted. Nowadays, the White House declares they don’t torture, yet the whole world sees the abuse daily of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The stupid people making up of today’s foreign policy are blinded by $$$ signs in their eyes and believe economic prosperity is in line with American moral value.
I’m disappointed by many Democrats in Congress today, we miss men and women of courage.
Yahoo top news is also useful to search breaking news stories. But my favorite is the radio through Internet :: BBC World – Bill Clinton on LIVE!
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
I wish I got CNNi. I think we used to, years ago.
These days, I count my blessings that I can get LINK TV and Free Speech TV — two great channels with good documentaries, and lots of daily news shows.
last year — combination of settling into our new apartment and the stress of my mom’s final illness.
This year we bought a small artificial tree; haven’t put it up yet because the area I want to set it up is still a mess (may have to just toss the crap into a box and worry later about sorting it). It’s got the fiber optic plastic stems along with regular branches, so we won’t have the regular lights. I might work on decorating this week, since the spouse will be at work.
I do have the nativity scene up, and yesterday I bought a couple of Christmas stockings for me and the spouse; I decided that instead of hassling with wrapping for each other, we can just stick our gifts for each other in the stocking. (Already got him one gift, but since he reads BooTrib occasionally I won’t reveal it here.) I also have a bow for the front door which I hope to get put up today. 🙂
Decorations are typically my favorite part of the holidays…
.
The Netherlands – NOS TV website
Netherlands win Trophy in penalty strokes
Netherlands 0 Australia 0 (Penalty strokes 5-4)
Defending champions the Netherlands won the Champions Trophy defeating the Hockeyroos in a sudden death shoot out.
In front of a sold-out crowd, the two teams played a tightly fought match where neither team could break the other’s defence, with two periods of extra time it came down to penalty strokes, the Netherlands coming out winners 5-4.
At four penalty strokes apiece, Dutch goal keeper Lisanne de Roever saved Hockeyroo Nicole Arrold’s sudden death shot, the save giving the Netherlands their fourth Champions Trophy title.
KNHB Dutch Field Hockey
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
Congratulations to the Netherlands, Oui! I’m afraid I wasn’t even aware that this had happened!
Susan, I am a country girl; however, I did not know that the racoons lived as pets in the house!
I am very sure they are interested in the tree!!!! :o)
Merry Christmas to every one early. I have to say, I am on call 24/7 this month and may not be able to do much chatting here. Will try hard to do so, as best as I can. I just want each of you to know, I do love you all…my heart goes out to all who have had a very difficult year. I too have had my share of difficulties. I just didn’t air them here. It is all over now. Am back to normal as best as can be.
My family is well and safe and that is what makes me so very thrilled to be alive. My real family is what is what makes me get out of bed each day and do my thing. I do so love to call you all family, as well. This is how I think of you all. This has been an interesting year for us to deal with, for sure. We each have had our share of problems, but over all we do have lots to be thankful for. I do not ask for anything but your blessings to carry on yet another year to be a very good nurse and to love humanity and to spread as much love around as possible. I know I am blessed for my family love me and I love them. That is something we all must be keenly aware of…for so many do not have family for such a blessing to occur.
Raccoons should not be pets. For one thing, they are naturally destructive because they’re so curious and a lot of people who think they’re cute when they’re little end up dumping them out in the woods. But they haven’t been trained by a raccoon mother — they’re the best mommies — so they don’t know how to find food and they either starve to death or are killed easily.
But, that list I’m on tolerates those who have them as pets and gently hints against such a practice. They tolerate them because they want to be sure they can provide knowledgeable advice.
I’m so sorry you have to work so much! But I hope you make oodles of money!
You are a huge part of this family, Brenda. With the lovely Tennessee accent that I’ve heard on the phone :):)
Thank you Susan. I really mean that. I am amazed at myself for picking up this accent as I have. I still think I have the northern accent, but they say NO in deed I am so southern it aint (just being funny with the word) funny!!!!! :o) The real southerners down this way, say you are from the north aren’t you? So here I am…I am just me…:o) What can I say……:o)
I want to comment each of you for handling yourselves on matters of concern for each of us. I joined this tribe for the sheer want to learn. I do love reading and do a lot of it, especially online, to find out things I do not hear on the news. I love the way you all break down the issues and discuss them and that then allows me to join in with my thoughts. This is why I love it so much here. Thanks to all for allowing me this freedom. I was having trouble with finding my voice to be heard otherwise. At least I am not as frustrated as I was …oh, lets say a few years or so ago. HUGS to each of you…and again thanks Susan for you are one of the best…well maybe the best!!!!
Brenda, on that list there are a number of licensed rehabbers. Here’s what one of the rehabbers replied to that woman:
I think it’s possible to “read between the lines” here.
By the way, these rehabbers do not get paid, they can’t start fundraising operations, so they barely survive on their own money and kindly donations.
There’s a rehabber near me. I’ve called her a couple times about problems I had with an injured raccoon. It never dawned on me to drive to her place and give her some donations or, if I could, some money. It’s something i need to put on my list. They get very few donations, as a rule.
from a woman who rescues raccoons:
(I didn’t know that raccoons smile! I’ll have to look for that!)
One of my goals for the coming year is to go through the coupon sections each week instead of having them pile up and expire.
Usually there are a ton of pet food coupons, and the spouse and I don’t have any pets so they just get tossed. I was thinking of contacting the local humane society and see if they could use them (maybe to give to people who adopt pets), but I was wondering if you knew of any groups that collect pet food coupons, like your raccoon rehab groups or other animal welfare groups?
I’ll probably do something similar with the baby products coupons — possibly see if I can find a local women’s shelter or some such.
Just a few ideas for something I can do to contribute…
That’s a very nice idea.
Call them and see what they need. They maybe most want food or toys.
The local humane shelter here has a sign up right now that asks for donations of chew toys for the dogs.
It’s interesting what shelters often need. A private shelter I volunteer for is always asking for paper towels, laundry soap, bacterial-resistant hand soap, trash bags, and baby plen pens.
I agree with you here and what Susan has said below. I will start doing the same thing here in my town. I do know they need all that will help….Thanks for suggesting this…
We don’t ‘do’ a tree anymore, since all of our treasured Christmas ornaments collected over more than 30 years were ‘lost’ in a “moving experience” to/from Argentina (basically, they were stolen along with almost all our other belongings, and sold or just confiscated/appropriated by the authorities there). But we DO put lights up on our regular fake trees…
In previous years when we did have REAL trees — we also had ferrets. It was impossible to get them to NOT try to climb the tree, drink the tree stand water, wildly claw at and try to open the presents under the tree, leap up and grab the ornaments, etc. etc. Also, tinsel was right out: they’d eat it, leading to episodes of ‘flashy poop’.
Anyway IMHO there’s no real way of keeping perpetually curious animals from doing what comes naturally to them — just keep them safe and enjoy and laugh. 🙂
Oh, yes, the tinsel menace. I’d forgotten about that.
I had a cat that would eat the stuff right off the tree. And then it would reappear at the other end, in fairly short order.
Probably a good thing for people with wild critters to be aware of.
I wonder if BooMan has a tree with a Newf dog around. Can you imagine the damage that tail could do?!
(My parents had a huge dog when I was little and they found it irresistably funny that he’d wag his tail and knock little me over. What a sense of humor!)
…little lights everywhere.
They’ll eat it, it isn’t good for their digestion.
And it won’t be good for yours either.
Not a very merry Christmas, when my big orange cat had a stream of two-colored tinsel (silver/green) trailing out of his butt!
Oh, and he’d run when I’d try to pull it out.
Ick.
I used to have a huge white German Shepherd dog. He had a special corner in the livingroom where his bed was that he loved. This corner was otherwise empty. so it was the logical place to put the c’mas tree. Right? WRONG!
I put up the tree in the “otherwise empty” corner. Decorated it just perfectly, and stepped back to admire the beauty. Then I left the living room to go fix dinner.
All of a sudden I heard the worst imaginable crash, scrape, clatter and it wasn’t Santa on the roof top.
My huge dog had tried to lay down where his bed always was. That part was okay. But when he stood up……… everything else stood up with him and fell to the floor.
The tree was put into a different corner.
Sorry to hop your post, I thought this story is something ya’ll wouldn’t want to miss. Through the wonders of Adobe Acrobat, Bush’s Iraq speech writer has been unmasked. Don’t follow polls my ass! Junk research in my own backyard! Take a gander at the load of shit they’re shoveling outta Duke:
NYT
Despite the president’s oft-stated aversion to polls, Dr. Feaver was recruited after he and Duke colleagues presented the administration with an analysis of polls about the Iraq war in 2003 and 2004. They concluded that Americans would support a war with mounting casualties on one condition: that they believed it would ultimately succeed.
That finding, which is questioned by other political scientists, was clearly behind the victory theme in the speech and the plan, in which the word appears six times in the table of contents alone, including sections titled “Victory in Iraq is a Vital U.S. Interest” and “Our Strategy for Victory is Clear.”
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WASHINGTON (MSNBC/AP) 32 min ago — Sen. John McCain, a prisoner of war who was tortured in Vietnam, said today he will refuse to yield on his demands that the White House agree with his proposed ban on the use of torture to extract information from suspected terrorists.
“I won’t,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” when asked whether he would compromise with the Bush administration. He is insisting on his language that no person in U.S. custody should be subject to “cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment.”
The Arizona Republican said he had met several times with the president’s national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, on the issue, and both McCain and Hadley said Sunday they were working toward an agreement.
≈ Cross-posted from my diary ::
“U.S. World Leader Human Rights” ≈
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼▼▼ READ MY DIARY
Oui, have you read the transcript yet?
MTP transcript
It’s a very interesting read for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is how McCain shovels the shit just like the rest of them.
and I am an internet addict.
I have put up a christmas tree of sorts here for anyone who is interested. 😉
I got my inspiration from Elivis’ Blue Christmas which I play every year to annoy people. I have one row of small blue LED lights leading to the door and a tiny yew tree in the front garden with tiny white lights. My blue front door wreath from Winner’s is made of beads and sequins. There are an assortment of blue Xmas balls on each side of front door. Inside the house around the front door, more blue lights.
I am actually expecting quite a few visitors at Xmas but I like to tone down the overdone ‘cheer’ around me.
Sybil, you ought to be in Memphis ….Elvis has never left th building, so to speak….;o) They were on tv just a few days ago describing the light display at Graceland. It is always impressive, but after a while, it gets just old hack…My son, the policeman, says it is getting very busy there for sightseers…I can tell you, it is a very lovely Christmas at Graceland…
who you callin’ a ho?!
: p
It’s Susan Claus!
This Season’s War Cry: Commercialize Christmas, or Else by Adam Cohen.
Haven’t had a tree for years. Had to have a live one, and as we’d always go to CT for a week over the holiday, we never wanted to leave it there to dry up and ignite. 🙂 And we didn’t want to take it down before we left… Sigh.
That, and George the border collie had a tendency to pee on them anyway. 🙂
I could get a fake one… it’s just not the same. I’ve become a holiday Grinch (heart’s still big though). 🙂
Feel free to come throw twine at each other in my diary here.
Both trees are up. We have a little one in the living room and the big monster one in the dining room.
Then there are various decorations throughout the house. Outside we just have a wreath with lights on it (we didn’t put up the other lights this year!).
With 4 dogs and 4 cats, the trees are in constant danger. The big one has no ornaments on the first row of branches and I didn’t put any of my parents’ oranments up for fear that they’d be broken. And, I’ve chased one of the cats away from it three times today.
I don’t care much for presents and stuff at Christmas, but I love putting up decorations, baking, listening to Christmas music and generally enjoying the season.
After an… Incident with a Christmas tree when he was a kitten, our cat doesn’t even think about climbing Christmast trees anymore.
No tree, but the menorah will go “up” soon. Greetings of the season to all.
I always liked the rituals that involved lighting candles. I don’t know what there is about it , but it is nice. Well, I also like a religion whose weekly service revolves around reading passages from a book.
Sorry, outsider’s perspective here
Catholicism? Plenty of the lighting of candles, not so much reading passages from a book. Learned that from my ex!
Apparently, a lot of people are hiring contractors to do their decorations for them. Has anyone ever done this?
Actually, I saw a print ad in one of those advertiser mailers. It was a first for me.
I grew up in the country and we never did decorate the outside of the house too much. We had a tradition that every Christmas Eve we would go out to the woods, cut our tree down, and bring it back into the house. We had to wait until Christmas Eve so all the family would be home. That night from oldest to the youngest put something on the tree. We used ornament that were my Grandmother mothers, some she had collected, and some from each of us. We decorated until my Grandmother was satisfied with the way the tree looked. I look back and think it wasn’t the decorating that made me so happy, it was that all my family were there and we were all happy to be together this one time of the year.
Now that I’m older we all have our own families and homes but we still get together for Christmas. Whichever brother or sister is hosting the Christmas already has everything decorated when you get there. This is good, but I wish my grandson, nieces, and nephews could know what it is like to wait all year with the anticipation of decorating the tree with all the family.
This year the tradition(s) continue as the BBC report
Following up on the reports of fake news stories of “progress” in Iraq, the Village Voice offers ten positive headlines, certain to please even the most sycophantic.