We took our Christmas tree down today. The needles were starting drop. It was becoming more of a fire hazard. We have had our tree up as late as Valentine's Day. When I took the lights off it sounded like a light rain falling, the pitter patter of pine needles hitting the plastic tarp. I propped it up in the back yard for the birds to use as shelter from the storm. One of my neighbors is not pleased when the half dead tree goes up outside in the depth of Winter. She has inquired in the past, "what's that for?"
"We're using it as a shelter for the birds so they have a place to hang out in bad weather."
She responds with, "Hmmmm..." and a look, the scowl. Our other neighbors don't care what we do. In fact, they brought over a gift certificate to Bob Evans this afternoon to thank us for helping them out this winter. We do a little shoveling and take their garbage to the curb on pick-up day. We also get the morning paper. Actually, whoever gets to the street first in the morning brings the paper. If the paper isn't hanging in a plastic bag on your doorknob when you go out, you're it. For me it's a contest. I have to get there first. My neighbor must have quite a pile of plastic bags.
So it has been somewhat of an eventful day. The groundhog saw his shadow. The Seahawks are playing the Broncos in the Superbowl. And I just heard that Edward Snowden has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. His nominees believe he "contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order." Snowden's revelations are not really groundbreaking news. The NSA has been gathering information for decades. Before 9/11 it's safe to say 90% of the population had never heard of the NSA.
The Superbowl kicks off soon. Time to gets the snacks ready. I will be rooting for the better team.