A windy day here in the suburbs meant I had to track my trash can down from four houses away. In the process, I noticed my neighbor had her Christmas tree lit at 6:30pm. On March 26, mind you. For those unfamiliar, this isn't an unusual circumstance - she more or less keeps the tree up all year, and frequently turns the multi-colored lights on throughout the year.
It drives me insane, but I'm working on that.
I guess in my simple mind, the fake pine tree with plug-in lights is specific to a certain holiday, which comes at a certain time every year. There is an acceptable period to erect and light your tree, and there's an acceptable period for you to keep the tree up before taking down all of your decorations and storing them for another eleven months or so. Does this woman not understand that social convention? Is she some form of Christmas anarchist? Or maybe she's just an old lady who likes Christmas, and I should just mind my own business.
My goal for the year is to stop letting nonsense like this bother me. Whether or not a little old lady in my neighborhood loves Christmas to an unusual degree really doesn't impact my life, and certainly there's little I can do to change her behavior. So, while I'm trying to let all of this just slide by, I admit some days it makes me want to call in the Delta Force and cut the power to her house.
Perhaps a beer will mellow me out, so tonight we're both sampling the Jenlain Ambrée, a farmhouse ale from Brasserie Duyck in France. The brewery dates back to 1922 or so, and originally sold their product in recycled champagne bottles. Out of a 750ml bottle, this ale pours a hazy dark copper with little head. The beer gives off aromas of apple, honey, and tea and has flavors of malt, apple, caramel, subdued hops, and brewed tea. There's a sweetness to this beer, although it has a dry finish. Very enjoyable, and I can see myself drinking one of these in the warmer months. You know, with my Christmas tree lit and stockings hung off my patio furniture. Or... perhaps not....
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| Bling, bling! |
Thing to Think About Today:
Clearly, leaving your Christmas tree up year-round is overkill. So, with that in mind, let's all take time to think about Overkill, this one courtesy of Men At Work frontman Colin Hay. Just a fantastic song by any measure.
"I can't get to sleep, I think about the implications"
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