Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for December 20, 2021

Doesn’t look like cutting back so far. Need to wait and see if he starts dragging out tangled strings of lights.

The whole shebang Arlo.

The annual tough call!

And for whichever partner asks, the other will claim that the first has not been listening. :)

Pull the stops, or not. There is a whole pipe organ of decorations in the attic.

Or both. We didn’t get a tree this year. Just one or two random strings of lights. What grinches! Pretty depressing actually.

On the other hand we’re doing something we’ve never done before: We’re visiting one of our sons and his family. All of our other kids and their families are going too. It’ll be chaotic, delightful and memorable. We’ve never had one of them host everybody before. Seems like the passing of the baton. (Just in time too.)

If Christmas cards is the measuring stick we’re at about quarter speed.

Same ol’ same ol’ here.

Arlo is asking “She who must be obeyed” at his own peril!

Is “pulling out all the stops” an organ term?

yes… :D

3 glitter water ball trees, a waterball snowman. That’s it inside. Outdoors led lights on the porch rail, a wreath from the local boy scouts and 3 spiral trees. Even that felt like an effort.

We pull out all the stops. Xmas, Valentine’s Day, Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes, Memorial/Remembrance Day, Canada Day, Fourth of July, Summer and Winter Solstices, Labour Day, Canadian Thanksgiving, Halloween, USAin Thanksgiving and now we are back to Xmas. She loves to decorate and re-decorate. One bedroom and the attic are devoted to decoration storage.

let’s celebrate with family and friends, deck the halls to be joyful and those of us who are warm and well fed and have everything we need and more, let’s not stuff our stockings with ever more but remember the millions of those here and around the world that are cold and hungry and share with them our bounty, it may be corny but it is the real meaning and joy of this season- every season

Tree still not up. Probably this am while the wife is volunteering at the SA bucket. Christmas eve was cancelled as it would be too many people in the house against government new regulations. there is also an elder involved. took the sails out of my spirit. 7 at our house for Christmas day. at least the OPP will not be crashing the door in checking.

Do they ever have company over?

Janis is a stops puller for the tree and baking. I think Arlo is a stops puller for outside lights.

Or cutting back on all the stops…

Wouldn’t they have exchanged gifts with Gene & family before they went home? Unless there’s another visit planned?

I hate to think of what our house would look like decoration-wise if not for my Wife’s enthusiasm.

A little late to be asking that question. Whatever is, will be.

OK, Arlo can’t remember. But Janis looks angry about his putting up the wreath. Is this because he must have forgotten (i.e., wasn’t listening to her) when “they” decided which way to go?

Dec a problem month past several years – time wise. Have to finish paperwork for a senior RE tax exemption qualify for. Start collecting papers in Jan for the following Dec & some papers take several tries to get (esp from Medicare D & supplement companies). H have been an accountant for over 40 years (& helped dad doing for 15 years before that) & paperwork they require is worse than IRS audits. The paperwork runs around 150 pages by the time done. No longer mail it in by certified mail, I walk in to the county tax assessor’s office – 4 years ago we mailed it as usual, then received a call from county we had not filed it (an error went to out to the most county property owners even businesses which do not qualify) – & only their receipt would count as proof of receipt (not USPS receipt). So had to reprint entire thing & schlep down there – parking lot always full so husband dropped/drops me & drives to a shopping center to wait for me to call to pick me up – normally hours to wait. So I had to get that finished this month.

Also have take 20 hours of classes (online) to be able to prepare income taxes next year – courses did not open up to take until just before Thanksgiving. Have taken 14 hours worth & passed the exams – the smaller classes, still have to take the 6 hour course which is a specific retirement and take & pass the 3 hour exam – before end of the year.

Thrown into this – had to take my 93 mom to doctor 5 times since December 1 & before last visit my sister moved mom to a new facility half an hour further from us 4 days (2 of them weekend) before final appointment. Took us 8 hours from when we left our house to when we got back – to get mom, get “certified” to take her out, take her to doctor, be at doctor, take her back, and get home – for the doctor to see her for maybe 20 minutes, maybe less with nothing resolved.

Two days ago I finally started working on the inside decorations…