Uh-Oh!!!

Already beginning to regret the gas station tree. He's drinkin' lots of water and all, but already dropping lots of needles. Haste makes waste.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Teacher story:

So me and about 8 students are sitting in a circle in the back of the classroom discussing the book they've been reading, The Courage of Sarah Noble. It's about an eight year old girl who travels with her dad from Milford, CT to what is now New Milford. As Sarah's dad builds what is one of the first houses in New Milford, Sarah's job is to cook for him. She is left at the temporary "hut" on a hillside while dad goes down to work on the house. Sarah, young and lonely, ends up befriending some of the Native American children and eventually when dad needs to go back to Milford to collect the rest of the family, he tells Sarah that she is going to stay with a Native family (the father of whom helped Sarah's dad build the house). So, one of the questions the kids were responding to reads: How would you feel if you were "in Sarah Noble's shoes"? The first little girl responds along the lines of "I would feel scared and worried because I would miss my dad and I would only want to stay with people in my own family." Good answer. Next little girl, who is a bit of a perfectionist, careful, conscientious, and bright student reads (without pronouncing any "R"s), "If I were in Sarah Noble's shoes, it would probably be very dark. There wouldn't be much room and I might even get squished. It would probably smell pretty bad, too." As a teacher, I realize what has happened and don't want to offend this sweet little girl and a big grin crosses my face. Another student shouts out, "That's not what the question meant!" And another boy said, "I had the same thing but then I erased it!" Needless to say we all laughed together after I explained that she did a very detailed job answering her question carefully and explained what "literal" means. It was really a cute little third grade moment, knowing that she wasn't being a wise guy (like would have happened last year). I have to remember to snag her questions from her folder and send that one home to mom for safe keeping. Very cute!

In the Spirit

So does it seem to anybody else that it was just the beginning of December and now all of the sudden it's like Christmas already? I don't know what happened and why all of the sudden I feel this Christmas crunch. I really have no reason at all the feel this way and after an evening trek up to the outlets last week AND a solid morning of the Thursday snow day, I'm actually in good shape, shopping-wise, (myself included in the shopping purchases, of course!), particularly considering my boycott of weekend mall-madness. On Saturday I had plans to have lunch with my parents and today (Sunday) we're supposed to head down the NY to a holiday party at Trav's boss' house. With knowing we were doing these things this weekend, the whole tree thing ended up being part of the "Christmas Crunch"... So Saturday morning we went down the local community center that had trees and were giving a portion of the proceeds to a charity. We passed the gas-station trees on the way to the community center and I commented that the guy must have just set up shop there because I hadn't noticed them last weekend. Anyway. We go to the communtiy center, sliding across the crusty snow to a few rows of trees and some teenage boys sitting around a metal barrel trash can/fire pit...very classy! Anyway, the trees were enormous, a bit funny looking, and way overpriced. We left, treeless. So we're driving back home, I'm pressed for time because I need to get to the parents and now it the time for the tree...Soooo, as we approach the gas station, Trav says something about liking the humbleness of a gas station tree, so we pull in, decide on the size, the tree guys' son shows us to our rack of trees, which only has like 3 trees left on it. We pick the second one we looked at, completely effortlessly and take home our chubby little tree for half the price of what we would have paid at the other place. We spent Saturday night decorating the tree, putting the spare greens in the window boxes, sipping wine, playing Jenga, and listening to old school Christmas records on the old Magnavox record player. It was a nice night. Now cross your fingers that the needles stay intact at least through New Years! (Two years ago we had a gas station tree and told ourselves not to do that again, but alas, the decisions we make in our holiday frantics!)

As you can see, our humble little tree is still a bit crumpled up from its long drive down from Nova Scotia all squished with his brother and sister trees. We'll give it a good last few weeks here with us with plenty of room to open up, plentiful city-water, and his life will be extended further as we continue to sweep up his needles left behind for months to come as he is eventually dragged to the curbside to be mulched to nourish and protect our towns gardens.

Mental Note...

Avoid the urge to assume that a dip which appears a creamy rich caramel color and caramel consistency is actually caramel. I made that mistake last night and upon taking a bite of my "caramel" dipped pretzel was rather surprised to taste nothing remotely caramelly...but rather a honey mustard wasabi dip...*gag* Yup. I don't even touch mustard jars no less eat the stuff. And no thanks on the wasabi either. I'm okay now, but thought it necessary to forewarn the loved ones...