Vacuumed the floors and rugs. Tossed the trash. Washed the front windows. Hung up the lighted self-made wreath of four years ago. Plugged it in.

That's a start.

I also placed the turned-upside-down washtub where the tree will sit, and the cats saw the significance of that. Now they want the tree, but I am going to wait until about mid-week before I go look for our Fraser Fir.

Tomorrow I will tote up some decor boxes from the dungeon.

This year I am not doing any more than the window wreaths, the tree and the kitties' stockings. No garlands on the staircase bannisters. No garlands and toys displayed on the very crowded buffet. No other crap.

I have just about had it with the whole humbug thing.

I love the tree and never will go without one. And it will always be a real tree.

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The painting is ongoing. I have two canvases pretty well near signing. The other four are in various stages. So far, so good.

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Every place I go people are coughing or sneezing or both. It gripes my ass that people venture out into crowded places when they have colds or are sick. They should be quarantined.

I went to Wal-Mart to get some paint. A guy in the checkout line was wheezing and coughing like a damn dying plague sufferer. I left the paint on the candy rack and walked out.

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Mom was funny at brunch. The place was very thin and I attribute that to the illnesses which have really hit hard here. She noticed the empty booths and said that she wondered where all the people were. I replied that they might all be sick or still in church praying for something.

She said, "Maybe they are praying for the Cleveland Browns?"

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Hey, Mom... prayers won't help. Look at what happened to Notre Dame. LOLOLOL