Nasty Christmas Lights

We have just finished putting up the Christmas lights.

We remain a couple.

Nothing is so irksome and removes the holiday spirit as putting up Christmas lights.

In our neighborhood, the neighbors put up lights the day after Thanksgiving. And they put up lots. Nothing subtle in our neighborhood. Someone is far more neurotic about 'what will the neighbors think?" so the our 'dark' house on the block was making him anxious. So, out came the lights.
Naturally, the precise way I put the lights away last year was to no avail. I wonder if there is some evil Christmas Elf (or Gnome) whose job it is to tangle these things into knots. This task of untangling is the nadir of the holiday. Then there is the unpleasant discovery of which ones are no longer light up. Three of the four strands of the "better" lights (purchased at Bronner's, no less!) are half out each. I was for putting up less lights. Rather, we drove all over town to find the replacements and more.
Then comes the ladder, the mixmatched orders to each other, and the spats about what should go where/I don't care you make the decision. By the end of it we are both rather cross and ready to strangle each other with the cords we could not untangle.
But it is all up. Then comes the 'hook up'. We have two outside outlets so the massive amounts of fabulous is going through two holes.
Tonight we turn it on and see how good or hideous it is.

Now I need a nap.
I'll catch up on my blog reads this evening when I can focus my eyes.......