"I QUIT!"

Yep. That's what my christmas tree said yesterday!

So, I removed its ONE string of white lights, all the celophane wrapped candy canes, the red glass ornaments, the sheer red ribbon garland, the little red bows, and the silver tinsel strands...there was NEVER a topper put on the poor thing. I NEVER even took a photo of the tree this year...so I guess QUITTING was warranted.

Plus, even though it was watered (a couple of times), a couple of times wasn't enough. The needles were DRY and DEAD!!! Even with the huge tree stand still attached, it only weighed about 2 lbs...MAX! I'm betting the tree stand weighed as much as it.

When I lugged it in, it weighed A LOT more than that...talk about a starvation diet!

I've been really busy the last few weeks...months, actually, so our tree this year was a bit neglected...If it wasn't for A.J. and Kyra decorating it, it would still be standing in the room naked as a jay bird!!


Moving on...

So, I put the tree, with the stand still attached out on the front porch (which still isn't finished!).

There were needles EVERYWHERE!!! I guess the tree was getting even with me.

Pulled out the Dyson and proceeded to vacuum the floor...

Thinking I got the last laugh, because the needles made the vacuum smell so good and fresh, I looked up to see the tree on the porch when I was done, and IT WASN'T THERE! Only needles.

Now, keep in mind, I don't live in a city. There's no recycling service going around removing trees into a big truck. There are no neighborhood kids to play pranks. SO? Where did the tree go?

I walked out the door. Looked to the left and then to the right, over the porch railings.

NO tree.

Walked down the stairs.

NO tree.

Walked down the walkway....

WHAT THE HECK?!!!

There was the tree. Tree stand still attached. Lying down and around the house - a complete U-Turn - in front of the garage that is below the house!!!

Dang tree.

I guess when it said, "I QUIT!" it wasn't kidding!!!

ETA: the wind was HOWLING yesterday!!!

"I, Tina Marie Schiefer, do solemnly swear, that Christmas 2012's tree will be fully decorated, watered, pampered, photographed and shared!"