the Christmas Decoration Saga...Rule #1

when Gregg and i got our tree yesterday, it was easy enough. we got a 7.5 foot Fraser fir from Lowe's for $29.99. i'm all about deals and coupons right now (since i'm trying to pay off my debt with 2 small jobs) so a coupon for Lowe's added to the savings. we ended up with a tree for $19.99 using a coupon for $10 off a $25+ purchase.

so, we brought the tree home, Gregg planted it firmly in the tree stand, and we put it in the living room.

i asked him if he'd put the lights on the tree while i decorated other things.

this is where Rule #1: Lighting the Tree comes into the picture.

Gregg, without any proper coaching, was un-complainingly stringing the lights from the top of the tree and in a sort of "wrapping" way, just circling them around the tree.

in no way was i trying to be a scrooge, but there's no way you can just string lights on a tree by wrapping them around by walking around the tree in circles.

so here it is:

Rule #1: Lighting the Tree If your hands aren't sticky and sappy after having lit the tree, you've not done it properly.

Why you ask? WELL, to properly light a tree, you must:

• Unpack the strands of lights.
• Plug them in.
• Check for burnt-out bulbs.
• Meticulously, (starting at the top), intertwine the light strands with the branches by wrapping and looping so that the strands are hidden to the best of your ability.
• Keep connecting light strands until you get to the bottom of the tree.
• Plug the final strand into a switch (either a foot switch or hand switch) and...voila!
• *If your hands aren't sticky from the sap from touching all those branches, then you mustn't have done it correctly.
  
  Your tree will be a lit masterpiece.

Stay tuned for more Decorating Rules, to be continued...