Howdy Folks! How have you been this week? Have you started the dreaded christmas tree decorating yet? We have got all ours up now and I have to say it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas Chez Barlow!
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| Ugh ... another tangle to sort out |
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Before we moved to Arizona, we always had a real Christmas tree, but this will now be the second year we have had a 'fake' tree. I was very skeptical at first, but I have to say that it does make it sooooo much easier! There is no phaffing about for ages trying to make sure it sits straight in the pot, and even better, as it's a prelit version the dreaded job of trying to get the lights on evenly is not required either. This year, I even found real pine scented little snowflakes that you hang on the tree from Yankee Candle which make it smell authentic too so there really is no contest. The 'fake' tree wins hands down!
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| Went for the multicolored option this year (another benefit of the fake tree ... you can change the lights to whatever color you want :) |
Firstly, the news that Japan are apparently training reindeer to deliver Dominos pizza in the remote snowy areas during the winter. Firstly, would they not eat it on the way? wouldn't it take for ever to arrive? surely it would be cold. Have you seen the size of an actual reindeer? I would be totally freaked out to open my front door to find a giant snorting animal with antlers and a pepperoni and cheese round it's neck. And finally, and most importantly, is Rudolph allowed to be moonlighting? What happens if he gets held up on Christmas Eve? Santa would not be pleased ...
"Right lads, time to hook up the sleigh. Hang on ... where's Rudolph?"
"Oh, he's out on a pizza delivery Guvnor ..."
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The second story which literally had me crying with laughter in the car on the way back from the school run involved squirrels and the notion that they are staging a rebellion.
You may recall (or maybe not as it probably didn't make the news across the Pond) that there was the story in the news last month of a squirrel who got into the residents lounge of retirement center in Florida and caused mayhem when it apparently 'went crazy' biting and scratching people ... (that was not the thing that had me crying with laughter btw - I'm not a monster).
Following on from that, a couple of weeks ago, a Chicago politician went on a rant about aggressive squirrels who were apparently taking over the city ... chewing through garbage cans and costing the council a fortune in replacements etc. etc. Well, this week, that same councillor was cycling along the local trail when a 'suicide bomber' squirrel leapt out in front of him and got caught in the spokes of his front wheel causing him to fly over the handlebars of his bike. He is currently in hospital with a broken nose, fractured skull and a handful of missing teeth! Thankfully though he will be ok but you couldn't make it up could you?! You can read the full story here https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/11/22/suicide-bomber-squirrel-hospitalizes-chicago-politician-who-spoke-out-against-squirrels/?utm_term=.a09f0219b01e
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| Don't even think about messing with us ... |
Finally, this week, Ethan and I encountered another spot of bother at the drive through as a result of our British accents, well, mine anyway. I think I have mentioned previously that anything that is based on voice recognition does not seem to work for us over here as they are all clearly programmed to expect an American accent and anything that deviates from that, no matter how subtle, does not seem to compute. (I believe I mentioned in a previous post that using the Voice Recognition on the car GPS was another epic fail, and the instruction to take us to 'Scottsdale Quarter', a well known shopping area, resulted in the navigation to 'Scottsdale Pawn Shop'!)
As Mr B and I were going out to the 'Luminaries' at the Desert Botanical Gardens last night (and Ethan would rather eat his left arm) he voted for a McDonalds for his tea. As we drove in to collect it, I asked him what he wanted.
"... a medium No. 7 meal, but I don't need a drink as I'll have one at home" which translated to plastic chicken nuggets and some fries... yuk.
Voice at Drive Through: "How can I help you today?"
"Can we have a medium No. 7 meal please?"
"OK. Would you like large or medium?"
"Er ... medium please"
"OK. What drink would you like with that?"
"No drink, thank you"
"Sorry, what drink?"
"No drink thank you. Just the chicken nuggets and medium fries."
"Oh, OK, got it. Please proceed to the next window."
Arrive at next window to find another employee passing a medium Sprite to us through the window ...
"Erm ... we said no drink thank you?"
"Oh ... you didn't order a medium Sprite?"
"No. Just the nuggets and medium FRIES"
"Oh right. Well the meal comes with a drink. What drink would you like?"
"No drink thank you." (bizarrely still cheaper than buying individually)
"Oh. Would you like some apple slices instead?"
"No thank you."
"How about a bottle of water?"
"No thank you." Hands bag over ... check in bag .... no fries. "We still need a medium fries?"
"Oh, you want the medium Sprite?"
"NO!! JUST THE FRIES!" Good God! It shouldn't be this hard should it?!
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| The Luminaries at the Desert Botanical Garden |
Hope you all manage to have a stress free week ... and good luck getting those lights right on that tree! Send me a picture of your finished tree - I would love to see them.
TTFN
Bev x
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