Punishment

I am being punished. I decided to start Christmas decorating since I don't have American Thanksgiving as a starting point for Christmas - why not enjoy the decorations a little longer. I have never broken this cardinal rule of sacred American worship and decided I could live with the guilt. I have spent the last 2 days buing Wal-Mart (a store I hate) out of replacement light bulbs. We had some sort of random power surge that toasted every single light on my pre-lit tree. So far, I have replaced 250 individual light bulbs - covering only the bottom portion of a 3 tier tree. Even all those aren't working but, I could live with that. Replacing the bulbs is a detailed process. First, you have to remove the bulb with the base from the tree, then you have to remove the bulb from the base, next you have to thread the new bulb through the base - and finally, put it back on the tree. When Darren came home last night at 9 pm he started helping me. That lasted 5 minutes and he was immediatly on the computer shopping for another tree. I have now devleoped a sick addiction to this process and am not willing to give up on my tree. I'm hoping to return to Wal-Mart where they have hopefully restocked the replacement bulbs. (I bought them out) and spend a few more days replacing the bulbs. I think I can get it to work. Next year, I might not be so anxious to get my Christmas tree up.