POLL: Real or artificial Christmas tree in your house?
Posted By: CAMT on 2006-11-26
In Reply to:
Two years ago we bought an artificial Christmas tree and we absolutely love it. We finally got tired of paying upwards of $100 for a dead tree that was dried out in two weeks. We got a good deal on ours and I have to say we have really enjoyed it. It's 10 feet tall which we could never afford to buy a 10 footer every year. I do miss the nice smell of a real tree, though. We put it up today...that's another nice thing: you can put it up early and not worry about it drying out before Christmas.
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Artificial tree
My MIL has a table top artificial tree that she decorated around 10 years ago. At the end of each holiday season, she covers it with a sheet and puts in the back of the closet. I don't know if the lights even work anymore or if she changed them at some point. It is just really funny every year when we get it out of the closet, take off the sheet, and voila! grammy is ready for another xmas.
This will be the first year I might buy an artificial tree
with lights because I'm tired of fighting with the lights every year (both putting on and taking off) and I'm also sick of the mess of pine needles the real tree leaves as it dries out. Also my pets seem to like to drink the water in the tree stand which makes them quite ill - too much bother all around. Lastly - cost! Trees around here are $40 and up for a decent one.
We've just used an artificial table-top tree
since getting the dogs. Two of my close relatives have terrible allergies to Christmas trees, and my allergies have been decreasing for years. I wouldn't want to do anything that might get them going again. Plus one of my dogs has inhalant allergies, so it might mess her up too. I believe I read that the growers are spraying something on the trees now that many people are sensitive to. I don't know if it's a fire retardant or something that keeps the needles on longer. I read it a few years ago.
Fake tree or real tree? Big or small?...sm
How about one of those old Evergleam aluminum trees with a color wheel? Wish mommy hadn't gotten rid of ours, darn it.
Copy and paste this link into your browser and enjoy!  Cat
http://www.oldchristmaslights.com/beyond_the_50s.htm
Artificial, unfortunately. Would love a real one but
nm
Celebrating Christmas Poll
Do you celebrate Christmas because...
=> Its a Christian holiday about the birth of Jesus.
=> The commercial aspects with Santa and presents.
=> You enjoy tree, decorations, lights, music, food and all such things
=> Other reasons, please explain ???
Real Tree
We just put our tree up today. A 10 footer that we paid $35 for which I thought was a great deal. We used to have an artificial tree until our cat started eating the needles (she won't touch the real needles). She got really sick (the needles stayed in her stomach) and she had to have an emergency operation. No more artificial tree from then on.
Real tree
I'll never do fake.
real tree
not bought, but hunted for; we love the smell of cedar throughout the house!
Real tree...sm
I like tall and thin, but DH likes big and fat. This year, it's kinda tall and fat.
REAL tree . . also nebraska MT (SM)
We just donated our artificial one to the school to place in the hallway; hunting down a real tree is the kickoff to our family Christmas!!! It's a special event every year.
Forgot to say we have a real tree
We have vaulted ceilings so this year we have a 10 footer, the year before it was almost 12 feet.
We get our tree (real) the week of Thanksgiving
My husband sometimes puts the decorations on the outside of the house earlier depending on the weather since we get a lot of snow where we live and he has to go up on the roof to decorate the upper part of the house. I can't wait. I love going out to cut down our tree.
When do you buy your Christmas Tree? sm
What kind do you get and how tall do you get? We redid our living room over the summer and since then, at least once a month, I've walked around asking where we are going to put our tree (a big boxed tree that is a pain in the rear to put together and sheds about as many pine needles as a real one). I've decided (yesterday - haven't approached DH yet) that I'd like to try one of those tall skinny ones so I think that buying a real one this year would be better to try out before making the investment in a fake one that I might not care for.
One more question - any problems with your pets and a real tree?? Years and years ago, the guy at the tree lot swore up and down to me a specific tree (can't remember what kind now) that cats will stay out of - yeah right!! My cats still managed to drag that tree halfway through my apartment! LOL
Christmas Tree
Real and anywhere from 8-1/2 to 12 feet tall depending on where we put it in our family room. It's up and decorated since Saturday.
prelit Christmas tree
have had mine for three years - Kmart brand and I love it.
Christmas Tree & Decorations
We always try to have the tree lit up and the decorations out on display by Thanksgiving day. I think having a fake tree makes that possible.
Do you set a deadline to have the tree up and decorated by Thanksgiving week? If not, when do you try to have it finished?
Do you put up your Christmas tree at Thanksgiving for guests/yourself
s
We're out-of-step, I think. Tree up just before Christmas.
I grew up in a large Italian immigrant community many years ago. (Not telling exactly HOW many years! :)
I loved the old customs, and that's what I stick to. In the "old country" it was about the nativity display in the house, not so much the tree. But we did have a tree that went up usually on Christmas Eve, and it came down on "Little Christmas", in January, on the Feast of the Epiphany. Leading up to Christmas, we celebrate advent and keep an advent wreath on the main table and light candles each night. We still get a real tree, and we put it up just a few days before Christmas, but it stays bare until Christmas Eve. On that night, we have a big meal which includes seven seafood dishes, then decorate the tree, go to church, and come back and eat some more. I love the food!
Sometimes it's really hard to put everything off, because it just seems that decorations go up right after Thanksgiving, and come down the day after Christmas (which is my birthday, by the way.) But I like doing just what I did with my family when I was growing up.
A crazy person and Christmas tree magic....
We just don't do a christmas tree because it's just my husband and I. However, when I visited my brother a couple of years back, he had a real Christmas tree he cut down from his own property. That thing smelled just magical. His wife and kids decorated it with the simplest of ornaments, colored lights, popcorn and cranberry garland, a red tree skirt, and those awesome silver "icicles" that captured the light light diamonds.
Well, I saw that tree and suddenly I was 6 again. I got down on the floor, flipped over onto my back, and scooted under that tree right up to the stump and stared up. Everyone thought I was nuts but it was just...magical. Next thing I know, my two nephews (almost teenagers) joined me and were also struck silent. They had never done that before! My brother and his wife joined in on the weirdness and said they had never looked at their tree from the floor, as if they were a kid again.
It's such a simple thing and I couldn't believe that they never did that! Time just stops when you look up through the boughs of your Christmas tree, with all the decorations and sparklies, and all your troubles are washed away so long as you stay under there looking up.
So, yeah, if you have a tree, try that. The spirit will come back to you--I promise! If not, get a glass and fill it 1/4 of the way with egg nog, then backfill with 3/4 spiced rum and pound it down your gullet--in about 10 minutes the magic will be found.
 
For fun only and to get me out of house. Never made any real money at it. nm
//
I think you need to get out of the house and meet people in real life.
Any man can seem fabulous on the phone or through email. Your relationship has become inappropriate and you know it. IF he cheats on his wife, he WILL cheat on you. For your own sanity and well being, you need to end things now.
Schefflera/umbrella tree/ octopus tree
are deadly to cats/kittens as well.
What I noticed, not the artificial leg movement but
even her upper arm movements were so stiff, like a robot. Not only is she unpopular with most in real life, do not see her staying long on this dancing program.
With artificial soap and water??
s
How do you clean artificial plants? (sm)
Seriously - the green ones (not flowers) how do you get the dust off of them? LOL
he's not a real person, but that feeling is real - the magic. nm
.
Artificial only for us - I'm allergic to "real" trees.
.
Our pediatrician advised against artificial sweeteners. sm
He said the long-term effects on children are not known. I don't let mine have any.
Anyone have any ideas on how to clean artificial plants, flowers?
I do have the real things in my home but in the bedroom I have several plants and/or flowers that really need a good dusting. I do not think I should put them under water. I would rather have the real plants all over the house but have to be careful of some because of my furkids. Thanks!
What are people supposed to call Christmas Eve and Christmas Day now?? (nm)
x
Need help with ideas for remodeling house and decorating. We bought a house
in fair condition about 10 years ago, got into some medical problems, and have just now paid off the mortgage. Hubby and I agreed we would do nothing to the house for remodeling because we wanted to pay it off first, then the medical bills. I need to know of some websites/magazines/books to start researching for how to go about this. These will be major repairs - roof, septic, basement, windows, pretty much everything except wiring. Where do we start? Maybe hire a general contractor just to do an evaluation and give us recommendations? Hubby is a handyman but cant seem to get a handle on where to begin. We would like to do as much of the work ourselves as possible - labor of love and all that...
Thanks for any and all kind suggestions!
of course it's real!!! It's all real, hence the title
gross
Here's a new poll for ya...
Let's get down to the nitty gritty and be honest....Bras or no bras while working from home....javascript:editor_insertHTML('text',' ');
javascript:editor_insertHTML('text','');
Can I do a little poll
For those of you who have been so unfortunate to go through an M/C or a termination, could you tell me how long it took to get a period after the M/C or termination, and also how far along you were in that pregnancy?
Just curious here. The doctor said 4-6 weeks, and I'm really hoping my body will cooperate!
to poll
Why didn't you give your opinion of Europeans?
BTW, most of us have European ancestors. That's a no brainer.
And it did look like you were picking a fight. I'm glad no one fell for it.
Home Alone 1, A Christmas Story, Home for the Holidays, Chevy Chase's Christmas, sm
There "The Gift of the Magi," He sells his gold watch to buy her a comb for her hair and she sells her beautiful long hair to buy him a chain for his gold watch. It used to be on "Short Stories by O'Henry" but that's long gone, long ago. Good moral to the story. I can't stand "It's a Wonderful Life" -- too depressing, especially with banks closing, too intimidating right now!!!
Pet owner poll: sm
Do any of you feel that the monthly one-spot flea and tick preventions are hazardous to your pets' health?
Between my best friend and me, we had 6 dogs. Since June, 3 of them developed cancers, 2 of whom died. The common denominator is Frontline. Her dog was only 4, and my 2 were 10 and 8. Her dog had a leiomyosarcoma. Mine had squamous cell sarcoma and the other had undifferentiated giant cell sarcoma. We both live in Florida where fleas and ticks can be a big problem.
Two other friends claim they don't give their dogs these preventatives because they were told they were poisonous to dogs, the advice coming from holistic vets.
What are your thoughts and experiences, and where do you live?
Thanks.
Poll: How many of you have a My Space?
I do.
Ok, lets take a poll, how many out there
EVER saw any evidence prior to today of her shaking, trembling, picking at bugs in the air, whatever -NEVER. Let her get some medical help through the court system.
I do Harris Poll
They give you points for surveys and you can spend them on whatever you want. I've gotten a weed whacker and a walkman...I think a couple other things as well.
Poll questions...
1. What ages are your kids?
13 and 8 (boy/girl).
2. Do they have their own cell phone?
13-year-old just got cell phone last September. 8-year-old does not have one. He's been responsible with the cell phone, and I like him having it in case I need him right away as he skateboards a lot outside with his friends in the neighborhood.
3. Do they have their own TV and or computer in their room? If so, are there set hours they're allowed to use these: Both of my children have TVs in their room. They watch it mostly in the evening hours when they are settling down for bed. The computer they use is centrally based and my husband mainly monitors that one with the parental controls.
4. Do they receive an allowance? If so, are they required to do chores to receive this?
They do not get a regular allowance. I'm fortunate in that they really don't ask for much as they get what they want for their birthday or Christmas. However, I will on occasion get them something special if we are out and about "doing my deliveries" and they are with me. My son has to take care of the trash throughout the house twice a week. My daughter has no chores. I want them to focus on school and just being kids. I was made to do chores from the time I was 5 due to my mother's legs (she had severe arthritis), and I was not always allowed to go places for this reason. I figure in due time they'll have their own homes. They watch me and will help if asked, but have no specific chores to do.
Poll answers
1. What ages are your kids?
15 and 7 (girls)
2. Do they have their own cell phone?
15-year-old does, 7-year-old no.
3. Do they have their own TV and or computer in their room? If so, are there set hours they're allowed to use these:
Neither one has a TV in their room. They share a computer that is located in a place where we can monitor them. They ask permission before getting on and are usually allowed to be on for no longer than hour. Homework has to be finished first though.
4. Do they receive an allowance? If so, are they required to do chores to receive this?
Yes both receive monthly allowances. Yes, they have chores they must do to earn their allowance.
Oldest daughter (15) gets $100 a month, 10% goes to church and 10% goes to savings. The rest is hers to budget for lunch, entertainment, and clothes.
Youngest daughter (7) gets $10. Same deal as the older one -- 10% goes to church and 10% goes into savings. What is left is hers to spend (usually a Webkinz or will save up for a new Nintendo DS game).
Answers to poll
Favorite job: Being a staff writer on a weekly newspaper in Princeton, NJ. Did not pay well, but I got enough to live and have pocket money, pay rent, etc. Got to meet a lot of interesting people and interview. My stories ran in the paper, and my job was very flexible, I was single and worked all kinds of hours. Those days I actually lived a dream because I was not in it for money. Or, I should say I made enough to be happy and my job made me happy too.
Worst job was when I was an artist painting faces at Disney in Florida. I thought it would be great. It was the hardest job I ever had. I only lasted 1 day and worked 12 hours and did not even get paid because I was a temp and I did not return after the 1 day. It was a million degrees outside, it seemed (I just moved to Fla from up north), and I never sat down or even had a glass of water in all those hours. I had to smile 110% of the time (that is actually a rule at Disney, you could get in trouble for frowning), and the tourists always wanted more (I know they paid for it, but the line was really long and I only was allowed to spend so much time on each person). This was indeed a dream job, but truly the most difficult job I ever had, and therefore my least favorite.
It's the Thursday Fun-Poll !!!! YAY!
 Let's see how alike or different we all are!
Chronological Age: 55
Physical Age: 30
Emotional Age: 12
What State: CA
How you like being an MT: Eh, it's [barely] a living.
What you like/dislike about it: I like to type, but I hate being poor.
Favorite Food: Hamburgers.
Favorite Spectator Sport(s): Figure skating.
Most fun you ever had in your life: Exploring London & Oslo on foot.
One of your worst experiences: Breaking my leg at the top of the mountain while skiing, and having to hop all the way down on one leg because the ski-patrol blew right by me, and didn't even stop to help.
Funniest experience: Getting my fanny-pack caught in a chairlift seat at Squaw Valley, and going clear around the bullwheel before the stoned-out liftie realized what was wrong. Then, mortified, having to jump 6 or 8 feet to the ground while the liftie & others laughed. (Find paper bag. Cover head with it. Ski away fast!)
Best pet you ever had: A dog-pound dog I adopted in 1973. She was my sidekick for 4 years, before getting killed by a car. She understood English, so you had to s-p-e-l-l some things in her presence. She was psychic - always knew what I was thinking. She went everywhere with me: Hikes, horseback rides, long car trips, motels, other people's houses, the Renaissance Faire, art shows, concerts, etc. My mom considered her to be my sister.
Funnest job you ever had: I was a temp for Kelly Girl, and got to work for 2 weeks at an architect's firm located high in the mountains above Malibu Beach. Lots of young, cute guys worked there. Every day at lunch, we all changed into shorts, set up a volleyball court in the parking lot, and played volleyball for an hour!
Weirdest job you ever had: Worked (also as s temp) at a toilet-factory in Van Nuys. The people there were all so high-drama about that place, that I had to stifle giggles more than a few times. I also used to do saddle-repairs and bridle-making. Also got paid to drive motor homes for people who were scared to drive them.
When you win the Big Lottery, you will: Quit my job! (duh...) Buy a small house somewhere, maybe up in Lake Tahoe, preferably with a tennis court in the back. Will remove the net, and turn it into a private roller rink. Will make it "flood-able" for winter, so I can ice-skate in my own backyard. Will maybe get a pet chinchilla. Will travel frequently, especially back to London. Will own a season pass to not one, but several ski areas. Will become more involved in animal rescue.
Your favorite musical group(s): Pussycat Dolls (various); Sundogs (swamp-rock boogie); Red Elvises (Siberian surf-rock); Trans-Siberian Orchestra (orchestral rock); Michael Franti & Spearhead (various, reggae, etc.); Grateful Dead (various).
Latest pet peeve: Obnoxious skateboarders.
Favorite News Anchor: Brian Williams. (What a cutie!)
Favorite past Sat. Nite Live comedian: Gilda Radner
Favorite current Sat. Nite Live comedian: Kristin Whig... (her "Penelope" character has me ROTFL.)
Favorite Sports Hero(s): Apollo Anton Ono (short-track speed skater), Johnny Mosely (freestyle skier), Peggy Fleming (ice skater), and Joe Montana (and I don't even like football!)
Most disliked sports figure(s): Barry Bonds, and all those other 'roid junkies. OJ Simpson is no prize, either.
I cook / don't cook because: If God had intended for me to cook, I would've been born with Teflon hands.
What you would replace in your house: My fridge. It's OLD. The freezer is not frost-free, and this most recent time I defrosted it, it had gotten SO small inside, that only 2 Swanson chicken pot-pies would fit in it.
Who did you look up to as a kid or teenager? One of my horseback-riding instructors. Not only taught us kids how to ride, but she also took groups of us on field trips to places like the Art Museum, the Ballet, historial spots in the city, movies, miniature golf, concerts, the 4th of July fireworks, etc. She practically raised some of us.
Did you pass the 1st time you took your driver's test? No. I forgot to look over my left shoulder when changing lanes, and he flunked me for that. I was sooooo embarrassed, I didn't go back to re-take it for several months!
Do you text when you drive? Haha.... I can't even text when I'm sitting in the living room! Them little buttons is 'way too small for me........
What you hope to see in your lifetime: Solar-powered EVERYTHING... houses, cars, even airplanes. (yeah, right...) Switzerland. Mount St. Helens. Paris. Another Olympic in-person. (Went to summer 1984 in Los Angeles... it was just TOO much fun!) The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in person. Death Valley. Burning Man. Australia & New Zealand. Spain. Ireland. A tornado (from a safe distance). And....! MT becoming a good-paying job again someday.
Worst pain you ever felt: A couple of real doozer, 3-day migraines. Yes, those were even worse than my broken leg!
How you treat a really bad mood: I avoid other people if possible. Stay inside all day and watch lots of daytime "trash-TV" shows. Buy a gallon of chocolate-chip-cookie-dough ice cream, and polish that puppy off in one sitting. Spew a little on Craigslist's "Rants & Raves" board. Bake a few million cookies. Go for a very long drive, hike, skate, or bike ride. And....double up on the Prozac
Favorite gemstone: Amethyst
Favorite color(s): Purple
Favorite domestic animal: Horses, cats
Favorite wild animal: Mountain Lions
Happy Flyer, or White-Knuckler? Happy mid-flight, white-knuckler on takeoffs/landings.
Phobias: Bees, especially killer-bees. Large numbers of any type of bug. Sharks and jellyfish. Sometimes seaweed.
"I would rather die than eat a - :" Tomato.
A friend or relative who passed away 20+ years ago gets to come back and visit you for a day:
You would be proudest to show them: The view from where I'm living.
They would be most shocked by: The attacks on 9/11.
They would be most amazed/intrigued by: The Internet.
They would be most dumbfounded by: The near-collapse of Wall Street, & the imminent collapse of the American automobile industry.
The activity you would most like to do together: Go skiing!
This person was: My dad.
Poll: How broke are you?
Last payday, I would have needed $200 to pay all my bills and then be broke. Payday is three days away. Here's my tally: Cash on hand: 48 cents. Checking: $3.58. Savings: 4 cents. Woohoo. Hatin' it.
Sure am glad this forced me to stop the cigarettes -- 18 days smoke free now.
Poll time ....do you exercise? sm
I make sure that I walk at least 1 mile 3 times a week. It's not as much as I should exercise but it beats nothing. What about you?
Fun poll: What's for dinner tonight? sm
I know, I know, it's early but I tend to think about it early. Last night I was in a rush. I had one of those Hormel pork tenderloin rolls out to thaw. You can get them at the store for about 6-7 bucks. Different flavors, lemon and garlic, teriyaki, mesquite, etc. I had the teriyaki one. I cooked it different this time though. I wrapped it real tight in foil. Then, in one of those throw away foil pans, I put in 2 packages of hash browns, 2 sticks of butter and seasoned it with Mrs. Dash and covered it real tight with foil, too. Then, I took some left over carrots and some stewed Italian tomatoes and put them in foil and wrapped it real tight. Then, I took the whole shebang and put it on the grill and cooked it all on medium to high with the lid closed, turning the potatoes frequently. It was ready in 45 minutes. We sat down to eat. There were 3 of us, me, hubby and boy wonder #3. We thought we died and went to heaven. First time in ages the whole meal went in one shot. Gosh, it was so good. Tonight were going to have a turkey breast on the grill. Can't wait......  
I just heard a poll on the radio the other day
that said Blazing Saddles was the all time #1 guy movie. When Harry met Sally won for all time #1 chick flick. I liked B-S when I was younger but don't think I would want to sit through it now.
Orange tabby poll
I have had a couple of orange tabbies that were male also. Hmmm ... others out there?
Fun Poll: Worst/Most Interesting Job You Ever Had
This is a question I ask people often in conversation.
One of the worst jobs I ever had was when I was 16 working as a nurses aid at a nursing home. Back then, in 1980, minimum wage was $2.85, but since I was working thru my high school for work experience credits, they could pay us .50 less an hour, thus $2.35 an hour. When a patient would die, I would have to ready the patient for transport to the morgue. So, I used to wash dead bodies for $2.35 an hour. Only one of the layer's of my odd personality...
One of my favorite jobs was when I was 19 and worked as a cab driver. Now that was fun; like knowing the true pulse of the city, where everything was happening and what was going on. Many stories go along with that, helping a lady of the night trick clients, a fumbled robbery attempt where I ended up with the crook's wallet instead after beating him with a tire iron --- now that was a truly interesting era in my work career...
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