After a couple days at sea we finally made landing on St Marteen or is it Maarteen? Anyway depends on whether you are on the french or dutch or mongolian side of the slab. Interesting story that a Frenchman and Dutchman stood back to back and circumnavigated the island and where they met up was where they planted their respective flags. Apparently, the Dutchman stopped for a bit of grog which allowed the french to make up a little more sand time thus netting more land. Knowing my experiences in French wine country, I am disinclined to believe that bit of forklore. My theory is the Frenchman said "Hey buddy (or the french equivalent) look at the sea monster over there and quickly skidded an oversize buccaneer boot over 20 score paces before the inebriated Dutchman turned back with a WTF?
Several of the party took a segway tour of the beach which included a 45 minute dissertation on how the drive the darned things - complete with video I believe. The result of that was one person giving up entirely and another slamming two parked cars (not our group). Though why they would have novice segwayers negotiating: 1) a parking lot; 2) the beach; 3) a crowded boardwalk. Kind of explains all the skid marks on the walkway.
Still feeling rocky from my diminishing cold I chose to come over a little later with the second wave of tourists, the Barnhouses and Blazsaks. After standing in the hot sun for 20 minutes to take the five minute water taxi over to the harbor I attempted a graceful, lady bountiful leap from the boat to the dock. Two seconds later I was sprawled all over the boat attendant who was heroically trying to keep me from falling into the beautiful turquoise Caribbean. Mark's only comment was "don't dance with the help Sheila". Ah well.
After several frantic forays through mounds of tourists and jammed stores on a route which Mark had carefully mapped out before our arrival, we slowed down a bit to look, touch and try on island garb. I left our little party and went to one of the beachfront bars to await the survivors of the segway adventure (no that's really what they called it). Finally relaxed, enjoying the view, bantering with the bartender and taking a slow sip of my margarita I reached into my pocket only to discover-money, driver's license, boat pass and........ NO CREDIT CARD! Now I travel all the time and this was a first.
Frantic I scooped up the Burt man and retraced my steps. On a whim I stopped in a store where I used the facilities while mentally going over all the actions we would now have to take to cancel the missing card and, of course, having no means of further purchasing power, when I rather forlornly asked the poker faced, giant dutch proprietor if he has perhaps found a credit card. Giving me a stern stare he asked my name. Upon my response he held out the missing card and wonder of wonders did not lecture me on my carelessness (well not much anyway)! Totally relieved and kicking myself for my mental lapse I asked very timidly if I could hug him and thanked him for his honesty. Bought something in his store this time too.
We continued with a daring lunch on the island. Lori later told me she never drinks or eats on land. No obvious effects from our adventure. Actually didn't get our food stomach upset episode until the last day at Margaritiville (but that's another story). We wandered the beach where Burt noticed the topless sunbather. Amazing how man radar works to pick out one small (well actually two) out-of-place objects on a crowded beach. Then 3 ladies too lazy to get off their park bench said I had a face that would look good with corn rows. Not sure what kind of compliment that was.
Final hilarity of the day was watching the returning boat people. We were tied up with 3 other ships and our balcony faced the dock. Some people needed quite a bit of support to make it back on board, though the singing and retching was entertaining. The best show was the 3 boaties laden down with packages who showed up oh, about an hour after their boat had sailed. Their body language was sublime. Pure disbelief. Got all the way to the point the boat was originally tied up and just stood staring. Then they took pictures. That's why you carry your driver's license and a credit card.....
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
CARIBBEAN MUSE - CHAPTER 2
Have to mention the pen tradition with the Committee. Apparently whenever Lori flies out of Grand Rapids she picks up a pen in the gift shop. As a collectible it lacks future value, but what the hey. Anyway Kathy decided to follow in the tradition and Marcie and I became a part of the "club" as well. Mine was Jose. There was a Luis and a Jesus, Carlos etc. and everyone found their namesake on our trip but me. However I do believe he was around when I heard them singing the National anthem - you know "Jose can you see?" So I am happy.
Funny how quickly you get used to the feel that things are not too steady beneath your feet. Sometimes overtly and others times subtly. Rocking to sleep is nice, I now know why one rocks a baby-really brings you to la-la land quickly or provides a calming effect even when you try to fight it. Apparently takes us back to the womb and the gentle floating feeling when swimming in Mom.
The buffet was an adventure with a wide variety of offerings, most of which were rather interchangeable in taste. Amazing chefs who can make meat, seafood and chocolate all taste the same. Fresh fruit is always available so that was good. Of course everything seems an adventure when you are looking out at the water-no lights or other man-made objects in sight. I have never seen a color to match the incredible navy-blue of very deep water. If I was a painter I would cut off my hand and never lift a brush again once I realized I could not recreate that color in my work. And yes, the Caribbean is turquoise, just like Mother's eyes and warm as bathwater.
However the first day the sea was too rough to land us on the Princess Cay for our first beach day. I didn't mind the extra day of cruising though it would have been nice to get near an on board pool. Apparently if you carve your initials in blood on a deck chair it is yours whether you are physically present or not. The ghost of your desire guards the chair against all invaders. Some confrontations occur so next time I plan on taking an inflatable and staking my claim poolside.
Still recovering from my cold, I tended to wander a bit then go lay down. Get a drink, go lay down. Play bingo, go lay down. Attend a champagne art auction, go- well you get the drift. I was taking my 47th nap of the day Tuesday when I heard the roar from the crowd on deck watching Obama's inauguration. Was able to tune in on my room TV and catch most of it. Very surreal to be cruising the high seas while history is occurring in the States.
Our first dress up night was very elegant and we have the pictures to prove it. Brian was very "james bondish" with his white dinner jacket which he lent Dad for a portrait. Though we thought Dad looked great he was concerned that he looked like an old man. 84 years old and he's afraid he looks like an old man, right. The Committee took a picture with the "old man" which made us look very young, because duhh he "looks like an old man".
Rounded out the evening with a 70's music trivia night where Lori proceeded to kick a--. Got 36 out of 38 points. The one who had 37 must have had help, but she got a bottle of champagne out of the deal.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
CARIBBEAN MUSE-Chapter 1
This will have to happen in chapters. Too much to put down in one setting. Ok-basic impressions. Took off out of Lansing the 17th at 5 am heading to Flint-minus zero temperature so we would totally appreciate it when we got to Florida. Of course contrary to popular advice, we over packed! Who knew you would wear the same shorts and tacky t-shirt each morning until you had to dress for dinner? Where you would graduate to longer shorts and nicer t-shirts? The poker faces of all who served were awe-inspiring. No doubt they attend "how to look at tackily dressed tourists as they may be sitting on a cool million or ten that they may inflict upon you if you ignore their tacky t shirts and shorts?" Aha! simple economics.
Arrived in Ft Lauderdale and found a friendly cabbie to the hotel. Couldn't understand each other, but I'm still guessing friendly. Hyatt Regency-Pier 66 -what? Poison dix? Hyatt. Hey Zeus? Pier 66. Pick up sticks? Here's the f----g address. Oh yes-Hyatt Regency. No - Hotel 6 you crazy cabbie. Come on. The place sports mucho expensive rooms, a marina where God parks his/her yacht and a restaurant on the top of the building so big it has its own lighthouse. Well there's $20 I won't see again. WTF we're on vacation. Go with the flow. Caught up with everyone later in the evening. But first I had a blind date with Marcie's friend Ramah in the bar who knew what I looked like but I didn't know what she looked like. Must have walked up to 14 single women (and men) saying Ramah, Roma, Nemo, Screamo until someone with an infectious laugh finally acknowledged me. As I said this place is where the Supreme Being would park if he/she took a vacation. So apparently I was trying to hit on lesser gods. The bartender was fun though. (see note above about not judging a customer by their tacky shorts and t shirts).
Dinner was a hilarious affair with much noise and exotic cocktails. Dad and I can't hear so most of the hilarity went over our heads. Just smile and nod-works on so many levels. Apparently we all hit our various beds at different times and levels of inebriation. Some, who shall remain nameless, were carried to bed, but all were up and at 'em the next day which is all a vacation asks of us. After silliness with Hispanic named pens (I am Jose by the way), more exotic cocktails and general malaise, we toddle off to the boat. Loading two vans with all of the over packed luggage became symbolic of every venture. 14 people and their various articles of comfort create quite a caravan. Trekking over the alps with elephants would have been simpler, but then I will defend my need for several types of footwear, because, well, you just never know! However I will admit, though I tried to change several times, I did not wear all I brought. Plus I bought more which extended my inability to wear everything exponentially.
Take off Sunday afternoon was dramatic (no, no one fell overboard), romantic and celebratory with glasses of wine and extreme overtures to all those on shore who toasted our high seas adventure. Very cool from the balcony. And I found where my first on board bar was located (to buy the Bon Voyage wine) with my new friend Ramah.
Chapter 2 to follow.
Arrived in Ft Lauderdale and found a friendly cabbie to the hotel. Couldn't understand each other, but I'm still guessing friendly. Hyatt Regency-Pier 66 -what? Poison dix? Hyatt. Hey Zeus? Pier 66. Pick up sticks? Here's the f----g address. Oh yes-Hyatt Regency. No - Hotel 6 you crazy cabbie. Come on. The place sports mucho expensive rooms, a marina where God parks his/her yacht and a restaurant on the top of the building so big it has its own lighthouse. Well there's $20 I won't see again. WTF we're on vacation. Go with the flow. Caught up with everyone later in the evening. But first I had a blind date with Marcie's friend Ramah in the bar who knew what I looked like but I didn't know what she looked like. Must have walked up to 14 single women (and men) saying Ramah, Roma, Nemo, Screamo until someone with an infectious laugh finally acknowledged me. As I said this place is where the Supreme Being would park if he/she took a vacation. So apparently I was trying to hit on lesser gods. The bartender was fun though. (see note above about not judging a customer by their tacky shorts and t shirts).
Dinner was a hilarious affair with much noise and exotic cocktails. Dad and I can't hear so most of the hilarity went over our heads. Just smile and nod-works on so many levels. Apparently we all hit our various beds at different times and levels of inebriation. Some, who shall remain nameless, were carried to bed, but all were up and at 'em the next day which is all a vacation asks of us. After silliness with Hispanic named pens (I am Jose by the way), more exotic cocktails and general malaise, we toddle off to the boat. Loading two vans with all of the over packed luggage became symbolic of every venture. 14 people and their various articles of comfort create quite a caravan. Trekking over the alps with elephants would have been simpler, but then I will defend my need for several types of footwear, because, well, you just never know! However I will admit, though I tried to change several times, I did not wear all I brought. Plus I bought more which extended my inability to wear everything exponentially.
Take off Sunday afternoon was dramatic (no, no one fell overboard), romantic and celebratory with glasses of wine and extreme overtures to all those on shore who toasted our high seas adventure. Very cool from the balcony. And I found where my first on board bar was located (to buy the Bon Voyage wine) with my new friend Ramah.
Chapter 2 to follow.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
WINTER DRIVING RANT
Why is it that Michigan drivers, who should know better, cannot drive in bad weather? News Flash! You cannot go the speed limit with a couple inches of snow over black ice. Your first clue would be meeting the back end of your car as you naively believe you are moving forward. Not natural - get a clue.
I am the innocent bystander cautiously feeling my way, testing my brakes and providing room between me and the one in front. Which obviously means to those in back of me that I AM NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH. Thus they now need to educate me by climbing on my bumper and staying there. I believe I should charge rent for carrying said freeloaders. I smile benignly as they race around me at the earliest opportunity. No wait, I smile benignly as we meet up later at their ditch of choice. Much more satisfying than wearing out that middle finger as I need both hands for the wheel.
I am the innocent bystander cautiously feeling my way, testing my brakes and providing room between me and the one in front. Which obviously means to those in back of me that I AM NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH. Thus they now need to educate me by climbing on my bumper and staying there. I believe I should charge rent for carrying said freeloaders. I smile benignly as they race around me at the earliest opportunity. No wait, I smile benignly as we meet up later at their ditch of choice. Much more satisfying than wearing out that middle finger as I need both hands for the wheel.
HOLIDAY SCENES - 2008
The weather has not been cooperating this holiday season. I used to love winter until I realized I had to drive in it!! Which means I have apparently hated it many more years than I liked it. Which kind of negates the whole I used to love winter thingee. Oh well.
I think it was Mother who noted a little snow on Christmas Eve is nice as long as it stays on the grassy areas. Maybe she didn't say that, but it sounds like her. Not to mention the cold and thaw and freezing rain, and oh did I mention the fog???? The plan was Christmas Eve prime rib at the Davis' but we all wimped out based on the weather forecast. Of course now that Lori works in White Hall, wimping out because of weather is a way of life. Anyway everyone but Brandon got the word, but I assume they fed him anyway.
We switched it to Saturday and ran into a little fog. Ha Ha, a little fog. You couldn't have cut through that fog with a mix master. Led to a very entertaining trip over and back. The return trip in fog so thick you were just hoping to glimpse the lines in the road occasionally much like the hot rod Lincoln song "the lines on the road just looked like dots". The Burt man just plowed through at 60 MPH and I clutched the door handle all the way home, like what was I going to do? Jump out if there was an imminent crash? Matt was cool and Kristen was nauseated the entire way back so I am very glad the windows on the Buick open wide enough if we needed it if you get my drift LOL. At any rate the dinner and appetizers were totally worth it.
We had the usual dinner at Chez Ide for Christmas day. We tried a little duck with the ham as we did not do the turkey this year. Though what I'm going to do with a 23 lb turkey down the road I have no idea. It was exotic and we cooked it beer can style on the grill. Brian and I enjoyed duck liver, er excuse me, pate untreated - still good. Then everyone but the cook had a little duck which meant the cook never got a taste! Oh well. After dinner we enjoyed a raucous Naughty Santa where the "jewish" boys traded the most times (a new record). Wait a minute they don't celebrate Christmas- oh well, everyone stays, everyone plays.
Of course independently the Committee got gifts for each other ranging from horoscope jewelry, Mother-inspired butterflies and bracelets. So funny Kristen got gifts for us that were the same that we got for each other! But hers were nicer and more expensive so we stayed with her choices. Obviously she knows what we wanted!
Some of the Committee and one rep from the Junior Committee got together for a hilarious luncheon at the Beltline Bar between Christmas and New Year's. It's so strange, but so great to hang with my daughter as one of the "girls" and have a blast. She is a riot and fits right in with the older "girls" no problem. I was honored to be included and I probably would have been ok not being invited, but she knows me better than myself.
New Year's Eve was another gathering with mucho good food, mostly appetizers. We began with English crackers where each participant got a different toned whistle. Brian volunteered as conductor and we proceeded to render great harm to beloved Christmas carols. Course it's hard to toot your horn when you are laughing hysterically. We would have been much better after a couple of drinks or at least we assumed so. We decided not to test out that theory.
Next we had a very spirited and cutthroat game of Trivia '90. And either my sister or my daughter said "Sweet" actually means "competitive" in our language. We do not play to lose..... I still contend we would have won if my beloved but stubborn psychologist brother-in-law did not require scientific proof of every right answer I blurted out! Ann Murry indeed! Of course his recollection of our ongoing altercations may be different. I do remember thumping him a few times as he inadvertently offered clues to the competition. ARGGHHHH - I do not lose at Trivia.
Then for 2 hours I proceeded to lose at every hand of poker. I made up for it the last half hour and made back all my losses. Course I wouldn't have let anyone quit until I did. Hey if Mother could play all night so can I. Then we all collapsed on various air mattresses and beds at Marcie's place. But of course that couldn't be the end of it.
Burt and my mattress slowly deflated over the first half hour quietly and insistently. When I realized I could not turn over without rolling into the middle gasping for air like a freaking beached whale, we ended up on either end of the couch, my feet on his stomach. Much giggling ensued and then next thing I knew the Burt was on the floor in his sleeping bag. And Jamie slept through the whole debacle! Ahh to be an eleven year old boy. Needless to say we were on the road early the next day and proceeded to crash New Year's Day.
I think it was Mother who noted a little snow on Christmas Eve is nice as long as it stays on the grassy areas. Maybe she didn't say that, but it sounds like her. Not to mention the cold and thaw and freezing rain, and oh did I mention the fog???? The plan was Christmas Eve prime rib at the Davis' but we all wimped out based on the weather forecast. Of course now that Lori works in White Hall, wimping out because of weather is a way of life. Anyway everyone but Brandon got the word, but I assume they fed him anyway.
We switched it to Saturday and ran into a little fog. Ha Ha, a little fog. You couldn't have cut through that fog with a mix master. Led to a very entertaining trip over and back. The return trip in fog so thick you were just hoping to glimpse the lines in the road occasionally much like the hot rod Lincoln song "the lines on the road just looked like dots". The Burt man just plowed through at 60 MPH and I clutched the door handle all the way home, like what was I going to do? Jump out if there was an imminent crash? Matt was cool and Kristen was nauseated the entire way back so I am very glad the windows on the Buick open wide enough if we needed it if you get my drift LOL. At any rate the dinner and appetizers were totally worth it.
We had the usual dinner at Chez Ide for Christmas day. We tried a little duck with the ham as we did not do the turkey this year. Though what I'm going to do with a 23 lb turkey down the road I have no idea. It was exotic and we cooked it beer can style on the grill. Brian and I enjoyed duck liver, er excuse me, pate untreated - still good. Then everyone but the cook had a little duck which meant the cook never got a taste! Oh well. After dinner we enjoyed a raucous Naughty Santa where the "jewish" boys traded the most times (a new record). Wait a minute they don't celebrate Christmas- oh well, everyone stays, everyone plays.
Of course independently the Committee got gifts for each other ranging from horoscope jewelry, Mother-inspired butterflies and bracelets. So funny Kristen got gifts for us that were the same that we got for each other! But hers were nicer and more expensive so we stayed with her choices. Obviously she knows what we wanted!
Some of the Committee and one rep from the Junior Committee got together for a hilarious luncheon at the Beltline Bar between Christmas and New Year's. It's so strange, but so great to hang with my daughter as one of the "girls" and have a blast. She is a riot and fits right in with the older "girls" no problem. I was honored to be included and I probably would have been ok not being invited, but she knows me better than myself.
New Year's Eve was another gathering with mucho good food, mostly appetizers. We began with English crackers where each participant got a different toned whistle. Brian volunteered as conductor and we proceeded to render great harm to beloved Christmas carols. Course it's hard to toot your horn when you are laughing hysterically. We would have been much better after a couple of drinks or at least we assumed so. We decided not to test out that theory.
Next we had a very spirited and cutthroat game of Trivia '90. And either my sister or my daughter said "Sweet" actually means "competitive" in our language. We do not play to lose..... I still contend we would have won if my beloved but stubborn psychologist brother-in-law did not require scientific proof of every right answer I blurted out! Ann Murry indeed! Of course his recollection of our ongoing altercations may be different. I do remember thumping him a few times as he inadvertently offered clues to the competition. ARGGHHHH - I do not lose at Trivia.
Then for 2 hours I proceeded to lose at every hand of poker. I made up for it the last half hour and made back all my losses. Course I wouldn't have let anyone quit until I did. Hey if Mother could play all night so can I. Then we all collapsed on various air mattresses and beds at Marcie's place. But of course that couldn't be the end of it.
Burt and my mattress slowly deflated over the first half hour quietly and insistently. When I realized I could not turn over without rolling into the middle gasping for air like a freaking beached whale, we ended up on either end of the couch, my feet on his stomach. Much giggling ensued and then next thing I knew the Burt was on the floor in his sleeping bag. And Jamie slept through the whole debacle! Ahh to be an eleven year old boy. Needless to say we were on the road early the next day and proceeded to crash New Year's Day.
Monday, December 22, 2008
DECEMBER SCENES
Enough already!!! Snow and cold day after day. I love Michigan and the changing seasons, but hey - you get cold or snow, not cold and snow!!!! And not every day. It is supposed to clear up for any holidays and only precipitate on the grassy areas. Snow blowers are pulled out on occasion and winter sports are confined to gentle hills and open fields. There's a reason I settled in Lansing. Surrounded by rivers is supposed to protect us from tornadoes and the hot air over the Capital is supposed to protect us from the excesses of winter weather. The politicians need a good controversy to keep the heat on. Lame ducks apparently produce no gas....
Deer are being massacred every day as they forage for food or lick leftovers from bird feeders. The car/deer war is providing overwhelming casualties, much business for the body shops and the deer are losing! Hard to find deer organ donors.
The bird condo we are running on the back porch is seeing its usual varied supply of desperate renters who scramble for position on the narrow ledges of the bird feeder. We finally had to scatter some on the bench so the 6 pair of cardinals could catch the largess tossed by their bigger bluer brothers who hog the feeder. The doves have basically given up and are scarfing anything anywhere. Though their sheer bulk afford them the best positions, the crazy chickadees are completely fearless. Meanwhile the resident hawks just hang tight and pick their meal at their leisure.
Amidst all the frenzy of Christmas and end of the year projects, I found myself contemplating fairness and the lack thereof. As I curse the inconvenience of the weather and the work that I do, I saw a man today who struggled to move his wheelchair through a store. His legs shriveled up and useless. I saw the smile on his face as he excused himself for asking others to make way so he could maneuver his chair among us. Not a person complained or was less than accommodating. Hopefully we all felt "but for the grace of God that could be me".
Reminded me of my Grandfather who through the ravages of arthritis lost the use of his legs before he was 40. Though I never saw him standing, I always thought he could and I never questioned that he could not do everything everyone else did. He was smart and funny and he took us to places who never realized they should have to accommodate him. They found a way or he explained how they could. He never made me think that he was handicapped. He just moved differently.
Deer are being massacred every day as they forage for food or lick leftovers from bird feeders. The car/deer war is providing overwhelming casualties, much business for the body shops and the deer are losing! Hard to find deer organ donors.
The bird condo we are running on the back porch is seeing its usual varied supply of desperate renters who scramble for position on the narrow ledges of the bird feeder. We finally had to scatter some on the bench so the 6 pair of cardinals could catch the largess tossed by their bigger bluer brothers who hog the feeder. The doves have basically given up and are scarfing anything anywhere. Though their sheer bulk afford them the best positions, the crazy chickadees are completely fearless. Meanwhile the resident hawks just hang tight and pick their meal at their leisure.
Amidst all the frenzy of Christmas and end of the year projects, I found myself contemplating fairness and the lack thereof. As I curse the inconvenience of the weather and the work that I do, I saw a man today who struggled to move his wheelchair through a store. His legs shriveled up and useless. I saw the smile on his face as he excused himself for asking others to make way so he could maneuver his chair among us. Not a person complained or was less than accommodating. Hopefully we all felt "but for the grace of God that could be me".
Reminded me of my Grandfather who through the ravages of arthritis lost the use of his legs before he was 40. Though I never saw him standing, I always thought he could and I never questioned that he could not do everything everyone else did. He was smart and funny and he took us to places who never realized they should have to accommodate him. They found a way or he explained how they could. He never made me think that he was handicapped. He just moved differently.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
FOREST FOR THE TREES, CHRISTMAS TREES THAT IS
Made the big trek to Tannenbaum Farms to select a tree this weekend. Last year the Burt man went by himself during the week. Much less hoopla, no fancy wagon rides to the fields and no hot chocolate anywhere. We used to go there when Kristen was small and even once or twice as a teenager. Schlepping through the tree fields, cutting your own tree with a dull knife errr hacksaw. Dragging the girl on the cart when she wanted a ride. Check out the reindeer, wash everyone's face in the snow, warm up at the fire and sip hot chocolate. Oh yes, you also get an extremely overpriced tree out of the deal-which if you make the people pick, it out, cut it down and drag it out,you would think it would be a little cheaper. No handling charge!
This year Kristen and Matt wanted to pick out the first tree for their house. They moved in the weekend before Christmas last year, so not exactly conducive to creating the whole Christmas thingee in the midst of moving boxes and no furniture. Plus their furnace went out Christmas night which kind of takes the romance out of the holiday-although I suppose cuddling up for survival does often lead to an exchange of body heat.
General hilarity when Burt finally emerged from the pick-up. We had been dancing around, oohing and ahhing at all the fancy cut trees and wreaths wondering what in the heck was keeping him. He is garbed head to toe in bright orange camouflage looking like a puffed up robin. Amazing he could move. We waxed silly over his "over dressing".
Two things proved prophetic however. First, the fact that we admired all the trees wayyyyy uppppp at the building before heading into the tree fields and wondered who would buy these, scoff, already cut trees and miss the whole woodland adventure; and secondly, Matt's words that we will all be begging Burt for some of his attire before we finish today. Well both prophecies came to fruition.
Strangely enough, Matt and Kristen bought the first tree they saw (beautiful) at the building wayyyyyy uppppp front after wandering through the fields for an hour and secondly, we about froze our patooties off. Burt was the smart one. Took the magical wagon ride, after shivering on the platform for a while, way out to the fields, looked at the lone reindeer (a boy) left in the pen and wandered and wandered and wandered looking for that perfect tree. We found many perfect trees. However they were penned up like convicts complete with their green and black striped uniforms. No one knows why these perfect trees were not free to be hacked down by an eager public and carted off like a trophy buck.
Another little Tannebaum joke. After you wander and wander and wander looking for the perfect tree, you find you have wandered all the way back the first building you came into. No magical wagon ride back holding your perfect trophy tree, which spends the ride slapping you in the face with very prickly and cold little green fingers, and obviously no hot chocolate. We remedied that lack with a run to the local Old Chicago restaurant where we enjoyed something a little stronger than hot chocolate. However the warming properties are the same. Plus yours truly kicked a---- in trivia!
Rumor hath it, the younger set have their tree already set up. We "gifted" them with all of Kristen's ornaments accumulated over the years and a nice set of jingle bell ornaments that we assured them were "cat friendly". Heh Heh Heh. : )
(make sure you click on the pics to see them in their full radiant glory)
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