So dude. I have had this Christmas tree up for nearly a month. Enough is enough! I announced over the weekend that tomorrow I am hauling it out and packing it away. That was greeted by Richard (my better half?) with a mild protest. He wants it up till after New Years. Ew. I mean, okay, people all have traditions. My mother and I have been known to take it down Christmas Day. Come on, *after presents* of course! We’d even wait till after lunch, then out it went! So for me the thing is well outlived its welcome. So my question is: When is the appropriate time to de-Christmasify your home?

when do you take the tree down?

total votes: 18

asap! i want my house back to normal!

 28% (5)

 

after new years eve

 56% (10)

 

it's good luck to leave it up all year!

 0% (0)

 

i couldn't be bothered to put it up...

 17% (3)

 

tagged: christmas poll tree decorations new years

daniel · late afternoon · 6 comments · ping it

Well, I have to say. I think the post-holiday Holiday Party was a success. At one point we had 14 people. Fourteen. In my house. I have never had that many people over in all my life. But what a way to close out the season and ring in the New Year! All of our new friends, some we’ve had for a while, and some that have become like family gathered together like that. It was a blast. Thank you to all that attended. It meant a lot to us. And I love that I can say that there were guys making out on the stairs at my party! Makes it sound really wild, eh? Heh, it just sounds that way. It was a very classy event! I just wish I had taken pictures. There are tons that our friend Sheila took. As soon as I get copies I’ll put them on the Flickr.

Today we have been removing the holiday trim and tree. That is a big ass job! There were a lot of balls on that thing, let me tell you! Of course there is glitter everywhere. I have swept, washed, vacuumed, and wiped. I can still see red sparkles out of the corner of my eye… But the war on glitter will have to wait. My body has finally given in to this cold. I thought I was coming out of it, but today is another story. I am so glad I didn’t get drunk last night or I swear I’d be dead right now. A hang over with this sinus mess? No thanks…

Okay, time to curl up with some tea and a movie.

UPDATE: Got a few shots onto the Flickr.

tagged: holiday party love pictures flickr family glitter mess tree balls

daniel · lunch time · 5 comments · ping it

Or, just look at the picture. I feel crazy for allowing this holiday into my home this year… But it looks prettier than last year. We are going to add 10 more oversized balls. I like balls.

UPDATE: More in Flickr.

tagged: holiday home crazy tree balls looks picture christmas '07

daniel · late evening · 8 comments · ping it

Why oh why did we do sooo much Christmas decor?? We had no company, no party, we were hardly ever home, and we don’t have kids… Good laaawd! I am just barely done taking the crap down! Do you have any idea how many balls where on that tree? Not to mention the icicles and swirly things. But that was only PART of it. I had holiday coming outa my ass in here! Every corner had something. It was like a department store holiday up in here!

I guess I can be glad that it is done and gone. My back hurts. My feet hurt. I think I wore out the vacuum (note to self: stop decorating with glitter-y things!!) All that’s left is the wreath on the door, and the stack of holiday cards. I am not allowed to just toss those without consulting Richard. One may have like, meaning or something. Well they ALL have meaning, but he may want to save one or something. Now that I think of it, I bet I could DO something with those cards! A crafty Martha Stewart type thing for next year! Oooh!

tagged: holiday chores cleaning tree cards   accomplished

daniel · early evening · 1 comment · ping it

And so I was chatting online with a good friend tonight about how I was trying to enjoy my holiday decor, you know.. post holiday, now that I have time. I have been having a really hard time with that! It all made perfect sense when he pointed out that every time I looked at it now that we are past Christmas, it just reminds me that I have to take it down. Shit. You know what?

He’s totally right. It is making me go a little crazy.

I have to take all that shit down. Heh. That tree has easily 2 times as many ornaments as last time. Not only that, but we like these ones, and they are fragile! They have to be packed carefully and junk. By me. Richard has to work.. Again. Although last year my state of mind was a bit different, the pressure is still there. I just wish I had the same adrenaline! Okay, not really. But I have decided that tomorrow is the big day. As nice as it sounded, leaving it up for an extra week for some party, the fact remains that time gets limited again, and I don’t want this chore to do on one of my only 2 days off! Right? So it has to be done. Before the New Year. Tomorrow.

I have to get pumped. I have to get in the right state of mind. Hell, I want help!! Anyone? I’ll serve cocktails….

tagged: richard holidays tree decor

daniel · the wee hours · 5 comments · ping it

So, when I worked at a major department store as a visual manager I had an opportunity to bring home some discontinued holiday decor. It was tons of fabulous oversized artificial garland, miles of beautiful ribbon, just great stuff…

So I immediately went to my parents house and regaled my mother with holiday trim. She was the queen of Christmas! Her banister had no match in its lighted pine glory. Add a 12 foot REAL tree, done up in matching red ribbons, and she was the envy of all her neighbors!

And now I have to put all this crap up every year…

Ugh!

tagged: holiday parents tree

daniel · lunch time · say it · ping it