Adios, Christmas '06!!

Took down the Christmas decorations today...January 10th, a nice even day...and one month and one day after I put them up. And I swear I didn't plan it this way, but today was the COLDEST day since...the day I put the decorations up!?! Eerie, huh? Remained in the 30s all day for the first time since December 9th. So that's all just very fitting in my book. Actually, I've kept the lights in the front windows. We shall see when I deem it too ridiculously late to keep lighting them; my competitiveness extends even to "who's the neighbor with the Xmas lights lit the longest?" More practically, I just like the lighting it gives the living room. I should just light them through the spring...incite talk of "the crazy guy with his Xmas lights still on." They're the little white lights...which I actually HAVE had permanently set up in my living room, kitchen, and bedroom for YEARS. White trashy? Like a college dorm room? I'll accept whatever you call me. Fact is, they look nice, supply JUST the right amount of ambient lighting, and create a soothing, zen environment. And they're accepted in bars and on trees to give an elegant feel year-round, so why not Gary's apartment? Do y'all like when I speak in the third person? Christmas 2006...packed away into history. GARY now concludes that THE SEASON IS OVER!!