Today’s holiday tip: if you have extra greeting cards, hold on to them in a box specifically for that purpose, and store them with the wrapping paper. That way you have them if you come up short the following year. They also come in handy for wrapping gift cards from stores that are too freakin’ cheap to give envelopes out, like, say, Genuardi’s. (That’s what I get for christmas shopping at the food stores.)
Tag Archives: christmas
A bit more upbeat
Today we rediscovered the world of processed food. Saltines, it turns out, are the world’s greatest food when you haven’t been allowed to have anything pre-salted in three weeks. Steak sandwiches and pierogis have also hit the menu. There is no baking taking place in the kitchen tonight. The stew does not have to be inspected six times over. I find myself putting all the Kosher foods away on the first night of Hanukkah. I consider us paid up throught Lent of 2050 on the giving up of food things.
And it’s the weekend, which means that even though I still haven’t done anything to prepare for Christmas, I’ve got a shot at it. For the first time in over 13 years, it’s 10 days before Christmas and my husband has done more shopping than I have. Things Must Be Rectified.
I’m still exhausted, but it’s the exhausted of someone who sees the light of home on the horizon — of things returning to normalcy — of delivery people and pre-roasted chickens and potatoes from a box and eggs that come in shells and bread that comes pre-sliced. In a few more days the dog will be underfoot again and maybe, just maybe, we’ll find time to put the tree up.
I’ve declared myself a firm disbeliever in radiation, though as with anyone in an interfaith relationship I’ve promised to respect Nighthawk’s belief in subatomic particles. I stole a hug yesterday, and will steal another one yet tonight. I can smile again.
GO WATER YOUR TREE. NOW.
I received the email below from my brother (a firefighter) a little while ago. Make sure to watch the video attached to the links below.
Holiday Tree Fire Hazards
Water That Tree!
What’s a holiday party or even the traditional Christmas morning scene itself without a beautifully decorated tree? If your household, as those of more than 33 million other American homes, includes a natural tree in its festivities, take to heart the sales person’s suggestion –“Keep the tree watered.” That’s good advice and not just to create a fragrant indoor winter wonderland atmosphere. Christmas trees account for 400 fires annually, resulting in 10 deaths, 80 injuries and more than $15 million in property damage. Typically shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem. Dry and neglected trees can be.
The video link above, from the Building and Fire Research Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, illustrates what happens when fire touches a dry tree. Within three seconds of ignition, the dry Scotch pine is completely ablaze. At five seconds, the fire extends up the tree and black smoke with searing gases streaks across the ceiling. Fresh air near the floor feeds the fire. The sofa, coffee table and the carpet ignite prior to any flame contact. Within 40 seconds “flashover” occurs — that’s when an entire room erupts into flames, oxygen is depleted and dense, deadly toxic smoke engulfs the scene. 40 SECONDS!!!!!
Wet trees tell a different story. For comparative purposes, the NIST fire safety engineers selected a green Scotch pine, had it cut in their presence, had an additional two inches cut from the trunk’s bottom, and placed the tree in a stand with at least a 7.6 liter water capacity. The researchers maintained the Scotch pine’s water on a daily basis. A single match could not ignite the tree. A second attempt in which an electric current ignited an entire matchbook failed to fire the tree. Finally they applied an open flame to the tree using a propane torch. The branches ignited briefly, but self-extinguished when the researchers removed the torch from the branches.
As NIST fire safety engineers say: REMEMBER, A WET TREE IS A SAFE TREE!
See the video. Water your tree!
Ugh. Cards are done.
It took almost all night but all three boxes of cards are addressed and ready to be stamped and on their way. I apologize in advance for anyone I missed, and for anyone I sent more than one card to. It’s been that kind of day.
I’m still waiting on 3 shipments of gifts, which haven’t even shipped yet.
I’ve also got gifts here in the house to wrap.
But only one day of work left this week – that counts for something, right?
Christmas is a-coming and the egg is in the nog…
Let’s see.
The lights are up.
The tree is up, and slightly decorated.
All the gifts that have been delivered are wrapped and under the tree.
My husband has even started his shopping.
I think we’re on our way.
Aha!
Ha! I finally found a family that carries on like we do at the Christmas service!