Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for September 19, 2021

No complaints from HOA?

How difficult it is to please everyone.

ONE key to time management is to avoid doing things that don’t need to be done. But the BEST key is to delegate.

I use that same method for clearing the table after Thanksgiving dinner; it’s always set for next Thanksgiving.

I’m surprised neighbor Bob never noticed they were up all year.

If he were to take them down clear until September without an observant passerby, then Rat would have another two or three months to put the Christmas lights back on.

Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow, for events may occur which will cause you to regret your hasty action. Often, it actually does work that way. But then, never do tomorrow what can be put off until the day after tomorrow…

“You see, you can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself”.

Ricky Nelson – “Garden Party”.

A lazy guy is on time once a year.

Did he put more effort into saying “You bet … You bet … You bet … Fine” than it would’ve taken to take down the lights?

I’ve got colored lights for every holiday. And purple lights for Ravens season

Why doesn’t Pig just take them down himself?

Neighbour Bob finally has a positive influence on Rat!

This is why I quit with the lights 30 years ago.

And trees 20 years ago.

Gift wrap 10 years ago – made some cloth bags but the whole dynamic went the gift card route.

and THIS year, DH is going to go into our loft, pull out the tree and put it on Freecycle (not a fresh tree, hope that’s obvious).

Is it possible that Rat might actually be motivated to annoy others with his Christmas lights?

Pig really is a nag.

the secret is not to put them up in the first place…

My neighbor still has a cardboard Christmas tree on their front door, and a stuffed Halloween decoration sitting in a chair in front of the house. It just makes my house look neater.

Why was Sept different than any other month?

Always prepare for the holidays early. Especially if you work in a store.

Last panel is now my wallpaper

I know a woman who kept her lights up for about 18 months. The only reason she took them down was that she sold her house.

But they don’t work anymore…

I once saw a Christmas tree in the dumpster in the month of April

Putting up christmas decorations of any kind before Thanksgiving Day should be a capital offense.

I have a white string of lights up all year along the front steps on a fence. A string of colored lights on a bush, I turn off most of the year. And 2 projectors for the holidays starting Halloween.

Halloween candy started appearing in stores by late July so why not start getting ready for Christmas now?!

Still got that old TV. I’ll bet it warms you in Winter.

A lot of people near me leave strings of lights (clear , not colored) up all year. I always wonder, are they going to have a party soon, or what?

Ha!

Rat is a PROcrastinator.

I just don’t see Rat as a ‘Christmas lights’ kind of guy. Pig, more likely.

As a procrastinator… I’ll finish this comment later.

I just love Happy Endings. Don’t forget to turn them on tonight. Merry Christmas…..

My sentiments exactly … but, eventually, the nylon clips on the gutters crack and fall off.

I’ve been invited to join our local Procrastinators Club, … but I keep putting it off!

You bet, Rat!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! If you don;t believe me check my office window.

Thanks for reminding me to turn on my window pumpkin in 12 days. It’s actually a flat orange plastic sheet outlined with orange incandescent lights.

Is Rat getting in touch with his inner Gretchen Wilson?!?

i once left my decorations up for 9 years

I have a clock that is currently running on standard time. It’ll be right soon. It’s not the first time I’ve done that.

Back in the ’60s our next door neighbour never took down his outdoor Christmas lights. I believe they were there for the new owner to remove.

Maybe he’s got a plan for our children to pay back the 4.5 trillion spent in the last 6 months?

Pig, just enjoy the lights! We need more things in our lives that make us smile! Only 97 more days! LOL

As something of a procrastinator myself, what can I say but “well done, Rat”?

I do not do Christmas lights at all, however….

Procrastination is my life philosophy.

I left my Christmas lights up for the entire four years of college. Whenever my roommates and I had a party, we’d tell our guests to look for the house with the Christmas lights on, even in July.