As part of our Thanksgiving tradition, we decorate the Christmas tree. When my brother went off to college, this was the only weekend we were together until about a week before Christmas. Mom can't go that long in December without a tree-- I utterly agree. This year, because of schedules of coming and going, we have to decorate the tree *before* Thanksgiving.
Because of allergies, we have to have a fake tree. Because of years of frustration with putting the lights on the tree, we have a pre-lit tree. These are great: you unwrap, assemble, and plug in. Then you are ready to go with the pretty ornaments. Only this year it didn't work like that. One of the strands of lights on the bottom of the tree didn't light up. Mom says to turn that part of the tree to the back, and put the ornaments on anyway.
But having a section of lights out is verboten in the engineer's world. Especially when that engineer is a mechanical engineer... and my Dad.
He has this nifty tool purchased at a store that I can't believe he supports. He bought two, in case the first one breaks. It is a wand that tests Christmas light bulbs and strings of light to see if the bulb is bad or the fuse is blown. You see, Mom's solution is too easy. And I have an *entire* family of engineers of varying specialties. Therefore you *have* to find out which bulb is burnt out or which fuse is blown... the rest of us watch the ensuing hilarity, warning each person to abort! turn around! don't get sucked into the search! it is futile and you will never get those 3 hours of your life back.
One little...
Two little....
Three little...
Four Little Indians....
After *all* this engineering help, we still turned the tree to the back because that section of lights are out. Mom's solution works everytime....
After *all* this engineering help, we still turned the tree to the back because that section of lights are out. Mom's solution works everytime....
5 comments:
This is why I bow to your Mom's coolness at all times. Also, because she made me a hot goat cheese dip once and after that I am her slave.
I blogged for you.
Fantastic..:) Love that mom had the most practical and useful solution. :)
notice I didn't get involved. Not because I don't care (entirely) but I've seen similar behaviour in the past and realise the futility of it.
Now to address the tree we have back in washington....hopefully everything turns on as planned.
Post Script to the Christmas Tree Lights blog:
By the time Christmas Day arrived, the top section, a small section in the middle, and the lowest bottom section were all in the dark! I'm so disgusted with the whole thing I'm tossing it out as soon as the holidays are over. Next year - new tree, all working lights!
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