Of all the trees most lovely. . . .

December 22, 2011




Schools are cancelled today because of slippery, icy, unsafe roads.


Good thing.


I didn't get to bed until late and overslept.


Meaning Em was getting to school until after lunch.


I guess this is the district's way of saying Merry Christmas!


















Three down.


One to go.


One with an exam and essays.


But still one to go.


















But stuff to mark or no, tomorrow I must take the day off to finish Christmas shopping, get groceries and finally, finally pick up a tree.


The tree has been a bone of contention this season.


Me wanting the usual oversized tree.


The kind where the top scrapes the top of the ceiling.


As a result of our construction calamity this summer, the scrape from last year's tree has been removed.


Providing the opportunity for a new scrape.


Except for one factor.


Stephen.


Who, as usual, is erring on the side of caution.


The cause of all this concern?


Jasper.


Of course.


Past experience, particularly with Goblet, has lead us to conclude that Kitty's First Christmas tends to be all about the tree.


As plaything.


Smashed ornaments.


Kitty hiding in the tree ready to ambush whoever has the misfortune to walk near it while he was playing Commando.


Smacking at the dogs when they have the audacity to think that drinking from the water nestled in the tree stand is available to quench their thirst.

Imagine.


Looking on Kijiji, Stephen has made contact with someone on the North Side about their smallish trees available at a reasonable price.


And across the bridge we shall go tomorrow in search of said tree.


It's not unusual that we wait this long to put up the tree.


Given that Stephen celebrates Ukrainian Christmas, which is celebrated January 6th, we keep the tree up at least that long before we take it down.


So putting it up on the 24th isn't all that out of the ordinary for us.


Putting everything off isn't out of the ordinary for us, to be completely honest.


Imagine.


Doesn't matter at what point we put up the tree.


Jasper is going to think that it's Christmas, his birthday and every other major holiday rolled into one when he first claps eyes on that tree.


Poor tree.


It has no idea what kind of feline shit storm awaits it.






Title Lyric: Oh Christmas Tree