DAY 261
12.21.07
TREE 186
Ahh Friday. Last day of work for 2007. And it wasn’t a bad day really. I got to work by myself at Sarah Frederick’s house making her a mulch walkway. She called later to thank me for my good work. Then I recycled some cardboard. While loading it into the truck I stepped on a nail. It went through the sole of my boot and poked my foot, but didn’t break the skin. Thank god! Then I swept my boss’ house! Isn’t that great? Totally in my job description. Whatever… I went home, ate dinner with my mom and prepared myself for a night out. The orginal plan was to pick my brother up from the airport at 8:10pm. But the whole schedule was changed and his flight was expected to arrive at 10:30pm. So I went out early to climb a tree andpossible hang out. I decided to go to the Mellwood Arts Center for Fat Friday.
Thomas Brown was there making an Ice sculpture and I ended up talking to him and watching him work for quite a while. The event was practically shutting down and I needed to climb. There were a bunch of huge elms on the edge of the Center by the parking lot. I tried one but it was a useless endeavor. I walked around to the back and there it was, my tree. Like a moth to a flame I headed in a straight line to it. At the base it was surrounded by cut stumps, some art supplies, and trash. The limbs were high and I set to figuring my entry. I turned over one stump and rolled a slug in my fingers before I realized what it was. At this point a dog in a yard nearby began to bark loud and annoying. But I figured once I was in the tree it would stop. I got on the stump and the lowest limb was still too high to reach. I tried to hug the trunk and inch up. I made it almost two feet but the bark became less rigid and I lost my grip. I had to get in this tree. I looked at the overhanging limbs and found one viable option. it held me so I climbed up and over to the trunk. This tree was full of poking twigs. Then the dog’s barking for more intense and a couple other neighborhood dogs joined in. I got to my feet and began my climb up. The one loudest dog never quit barking. Five quick barks, a short pause, repeat. Over and over and over. I got to the top and had a great view.
I could see the downtown skyline [pictured top] and the entire Mellwood Arts Center.
But the barking was distracting. It started to make me nervous. Would someone come out to see what the dog was fussing about? I kept checking for people below, but it was so dark back in the alley and I was so high in the tree I figured I was fine and out of sight. I tied my ribbon an took a bunch of shots.
The limbs I stood on were thin and moved a lot under my movements. I started to climb down and one person walked into the alley. I froze and watched. It was just someone going to their car but they looked around obviously suspicious about the dog’s constant barking. Once clear I climbed down the rest of the way quickly. I dropped to the ground and walked fast to the parking lot. I had something on the bottom of my show and reached down to scrape it off with my finger. It smelled… it was dog shit! Crap! That must have been what the dog was barking about. He was trying to warn me about the shit pile he left by the tree. A good climb, but a little nerve-racking.
12-25-08: Merry Christmas!! I am behind again! Oh well.
I didn’t have a chance to wash my hands after I left that tree. I had slug goo and poo goo on my hands. I stunk. I didn’t tell my brother that when I picked him up.
So I am going to tell you about Saturday. That was the day of me and Drew’s Christmas Party.
This was out party poster on Facebook. I borrowed my mom’s vest and my dad’s festive tie. As I was setting up the shot I took a few to test the light. Enjoy:
Drew joined me and we took a few. It took a while to get the right one. We tried doing a few with our eyes closed, as often happens during these kind of things.
Charlotte came over early to help me clean and decorate for the party. Another thing I got from my parents was a few strands of lights. Drew also got a few from his parental units. Charlotte and I went out front and ran 4 lines from the side door to the gate,
up the holly tree, around the front gate, and up the Ginkgo. I didn’t take pictures as I climbed the tree to wrap the branches with lights. When it was midnight and I was in the middle of the party and I hadn’t officially climbed a tree I wasn’t too upset since I had already climbed (technically). Charlotte and I went back out just after 12 and climbed the holly tree together.
I got up to the top and I think Charlotte stayed down by the lights.
I tried my best up there to take pictures of the surrounding landscape but the wind was blowing pretty hard.
Mostly I took pictures (or tried) of the lights, the house, and Charlotte below me.
The party itself was a great success. We had karaoke, a snowflake cutting competition, and a fire our back.
There was plenty of good treats, food, and drink, and quite the good crowd. My guess is about 25-30 people came. It started about 8 and finished about 4. I didn’t take any pictures during the party but some other people did, like Shelly Biesel. (thanks)
I’m not sure why I am on the floor, but it must have been one life-altering karaoke experience.
After cutting a snowflake we taped them to a line in the dining room. Later they were numbered and we voted for our favorites.
Drew was giving me a titty-twister. Thanks Drew!
If you know of other pictures from the party, please post them as a comment.
Happy Holidays! And thanks to all who came out to the party.