[Cross-posted from my MovableType Blog]

E and I get along pretty well. Most of the things we do are in synch, or at least fit together in a ying and yang kind of way. There are occasions though where we are both baffled by each other's behavior.

Today we put up the Christmas Tree. During the said assembly, we discovered that there are a number of Rules For Assembying The Christmas Tree that the other didn't know about. They include:

1. Order that the lights are wrapped around the tree. E starts at the top and works down, and I start at the bottom and work up.


2. How attached the lights must be to the tree. E not only nestles the lights between the branches, but separates the wires and wraps those around the branches. We do live in an earthquake zone after all — you never know when the lights might leap off the tree.


3. How ornaments must be applied to the tree. I firmly believe that all ornaments must be put on the tree with an ornament hook, even if they have a ribbon or string to hang from. The exception to this rule is the bird's nest, because, duh, there's no place to put the hook.


4. Singing is required. I "sang" (I say "sang" cause anyone who has ever heard me sing knows that I can't carry a tune in a bucket) while we assembled the tree. E made the "oom-pah-pah"/counterpoint part noises that the lower brass instraments he always played.

   The cats had much fun "helping" with the tree. Their help mostly took the form of chewing on branches, pawing at light strings, and sitting under the tree to make sure it didn't go anywhere.

   In any case, it's festive as hell in here now.