Hmmmm...

What to post...hmmmm...Well, I am definitely not in a very serious mood but then again I am a Sanguine. Am I ever in a serious mood? I don't think so. That seriousness will kill you. After all, studies do show that stress is major factor in premature death. Yes, get that down in the heart of you all of your stressers. In the wise words of Barney Fife, "Nip it, nip it, nip it!"

The other day some one informed us that when you google Trumann, AR (on the image setting) my blog comes right up. That is kind of like being one of the most noticeable things you see when you drive into town. It is kind of like being the spokesperson for the fine town of Trumann (displays parade Grand Marshall wave). I really should receive some compensation for being one of the most notable figures of Trumann (online). I could say many things at this juncture to insult the fine community in which I live, but no, I am the online Grand Marshall. (waves again). It really is not a bad place. Give me modern conveniences such as running water, electricity (I'm saying, "Really, I need these things.") Wal-Mart. Yes, I am all about Wal-Mart. It is an Arkansas company. Don't nobody betta say nothin bad about my Wal-Mart. There are people in other parts of the country that are so anti-Wal-Mart. Get over it. I would not complain it Wal-Mart wanted to build a Supercenter next door to me. I could walk over there. Think of all the gas I would save.

This really is some rambling. That is what I am known for in Trumann and beyond. TTYL!

What Goes Up, Must Come Down...

Oh, yes. All of those beautiful, twinkling lights that were displayed in previous post, part of the probably over 2 million lights that tripled our normal electric bill, have to come down. It was all fun while it lasted, but now it is such a enormous chore. The grove inside seems to be mostly stripped of its glittered ornaments with a fine shimmer on nearly everything in the house. This is the messiest time of the year. The artificial needles are strewn from room to room. Boxes are stacked up as if the inhabitants will seek a new residence elsewhere. Wouldn't that be the easy thing? Just move out to a non-Christmas decorated house and live out the rest of the year. With my sickness I would probably have both places filled with the wonder and amazement of the season. I have to count every time I try figure out how many trees we have. Well, I bought three more this year, really more than that if you count some other little things. Hobby Lobby was 80% off the other day. Just let me say that if I had paid full price my bounty would have been over $600. What a bargain! Doesn't that always seem to justify it? This is a very un-Christmas time of year. No one really wants to talk about it. They are all very tired of it by now. So yes, what goes up, all the decorations and lights and trees, it all must come down. Then it will be carried load after load into the attic. What goes up into the attic must come down as well. I look forward to the next Christmas season, Lord willing, in which all of the many boxes come down once again and spill their contents into an otherwise very dark winter setting. I am ready again for the triple electric bill. That is the best time.

Post #1

Wow! It is hard to believe 2008 has arrived so quickly. It seems that I have worked so much lately and had so little time to blog. I am very proud to have set a new record for myself...107 blogs last year. That is nearly an entry every three days. That is not too bad. Besides that who would want to read anymore of this meaningless garbage. I really do ramble...much like I am doing now.

It has been a whirlwind of activity over the past few days. Part of that cyclonic behavior has been scurrying around the Christmas merchandise clearance like a rat after a piece of cheese. As soon as I make it through the door of the stores I feel like it is a dead heat to get to where the goods are before anyone else. I don't run, but do walk very fast. I am sure i look like a junkie trying to get one last fix. I don't know how much has been spent. I even bought some from orientaltrading.com. Perhaps one of my prior posts was wrong. I am not so much a Christmas addict as and after-Christmas sale addict. I think I need therapy.

Have you ever noticed how many New Years we have in the Church. There of course is January 1st. Then we have District Conventions in which people come back talking about this they want to...Then is is not long until Youth Convention...Regional Convention...General Assembly...Minister's Convention. So many come back from all of these events saying this year I want/hope/pray to do better. It is so often the same ones who so quickly fall back into the same unchanged behavior. How many New Years with the same resolution must we have? The only thing we have not picked up on is Chinese New Year and that is only a matter of time. This is the year of the rat by the way (whatever that means). Enough of that soap box.

I am actually waiting on Hobby Lobby to open so that I can give them a call to determine the % off today. I think I have rambled enough for today. maybe next year I will not be so out of control with after-Christ clearance. Check with me again after District Conventions.

Happy New Year!

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http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1650331125

Alas, Here They Are...

Merry Chistmas...

Tree of Christmas Future...

Tree of Christmas Past...

The Office Tree...

My Favorite Nativity Set...

The Stockings Were Hung...

The Reason for the Season Atop Hawaiian Sand...

In the Living Room...

One of the Living Room Trees...

Snow in Arkansas?

Ta Da...

My Name Is...

Apparently I am really Alicia Smith. I know it is crazy. I keep getting this message on my answering machine, "This message is for (different, unmatching computer voice) Alicia Smith. If you continue to listen you are acknowledging that you are Alicia Smith. I kept on listening because, hey, it is my house, my phone number and my answering machine. I must be Alicia Smith and I must owe someone some money. They are relentless. I am having and identity crisis apparently. I don't know who I am any more. I think I am one person and my answering machine tells me I am another. It is shocking! All my life I have apparently lived a lie...or I am getting these really obnoxious phone call about something and someone i know nothing about. Alicia Smith is right up there with Hazel McPherson. That was the previous name that people called looking for. Listen up world, I don't know who they are and I don't have your money. Okay! 870-483-5077 is the Mullins residence and it might just be that you owe me some cash! Hazel and Alicia if you are out there you need to pay up and update your contact information or you are going to owe me some cash, too.

Isn't it crazy, the phone calls we get. How dare they act like I am not supposed to listen to what is recorded on my answering machine. That is just rude. Anyone else get annoying calls like that. I screen any calls that I suspect may be telemarketers, etc.

Now, as for the Christmas display at the Mullins residence...drumroll please...it is DONE. I made the deadline. I surely did. It is all finished. Now I have to go out after dark and see if I can capture it. I know I have pledged pictures. I will have to get some on here. I will have to get some taken. It has been crazy to say the least. Anyway. It is all DONE! If I believed in dancing I would have to do little jig right now.

It is surprising that I can get anything doen having to be Alicia Smith's secretary. From what these people say I might out to look for a new job, cause she don't pay.

If you are Alicia Smith (or am I) or Hazel McPherson, or if you know them it is not my intent to out them for poor payement of bills. I do not mean to be insulting (or do I) and please feel free to use my phone number anyime (I wouldn't reccomend it). Now if I start getting a lot of calls from telemarketers lets say in the TX, TN, or WA areas I will be very suspicious. I know at least it will not be loan sharks trying to collect. Pictures soon. Soon can be difined so many ways. A day can be as 1000 years and 1000 years as a day. That is a very vague term. There are times that vagueness can keep you truthful. This is one such time. Soon...

The Deadline Approaches...

Yes, the deadline for all of the mania to be at its peak is quickly approaching. So much needs to be done and if it is not finished by Dec 1st...well, it is just not finished. Augh!!!! That sounds scary indeed. I have today and tomorrow or at least portions of those days. It kind of feels like one of those timed tests in school where they say, "Time!" and pencils must go down. I never liked those tests.

The inside is basically done. The outside seems untouched. The roof is all done but that is about where I have gotten to. The pool is still open. My, my my! It just seems there is so much to do and I am here blogging about it. Oh well. What is worse is that I have to work tonight and tomorrow night. So that means I will have to get naps on both days to enable me to stay up all night. That kind of cuts into my time...I know...STOP WHINING!!!!!

Very well then. All is well. I will persevere and live to procrastinate again. I will unless I fall from the roof. It is done, but there is one more thing I would like to go up there for. I can't wait to get it all done and photographed! Is there a support group for people like me? Hopeless addicts! Well, I gotta go untangle some lights. See ya!

Rehab...

My name is Jason and I...am a Christmas addict. I am such an addict, in fact, that there are some 15-16 trees in our home all fully decorated. I have hung well over a thousand ornaments and there seem to some left over. Oh, my. Perhaps I need help. The inside of our Christmas grove is now at or near completion. The outside is a totally different story. I put in several hours on the roof on Thursday in the cold. I am only partially there. I am sure it is to the disappointment of my season fans that expect it to be finished already. There really are many that drive by to see the display. I could have done some today but we were among the crazed, sleep deprived people who were out and about before 4 am.

Yes, that is correct. There were many others out there as well. These folks are devoted. We braved thick crowds, hot tempers. Our battery died on us before 5 am. Who do you call at that time of the day? Thankfully there was a man that responded as I dragged the booster cables out. That is what the season is all about, after all. Peace on earth, goodwill to me and all. He told us to have a blessed day. I thanked him for all of his help. A blessed but but bushed day. I slept the afternoon away to catch up, I normally have to take a nap to get ready to work all night any way.

It was a trully blessed holiday and thus far a blessed weekend. I pray the remainder of it is the same. I am so excited that it is on now. Christmas is on! The music plays from every speaker, the smells permeate the air, augh...yes, thre air. It has that cool, crisp feeling (30 degrees here, feels like 23). It is finally time. My addiction is okay. Now, I am like everyone else and not the person who has a tree up in October. Just a little while to be "normal." Is there such a thing?

DISCLAIMER: I am unable to spellcheck from the terminal I am at. Forgiver me for any miskeys, etc.

Happy Thanksgiving...

What a busy day this will be. Tomorrow we will be so fat with overindulgence. But today is the planning, working, cleaning, etc day before. I am such a procrastinator. I really am. But it is raining today so that means I am stuck inside with nothing else to do. Let me just take a moment to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving. I must get busy!